The objective of this effort was to develop a comprehensive test protocol to accurately predict all aspects of the performance lifetime of Department of Defense (DoD) coatings and alloys. This test protocol was to be comprised of a test methodology which would include the development of a test chamber, modified to include the synergistic effects of UV and ozone and the exposure of bare and coated samples to yield an accelerated corrosion test. This test would result in not only accelerated corrosion rates for the bare metals, but also similar corrosion chemistries on the surface of the exposure test coupons as were found on the field exposed samples. If this could be replicated, then the test chamber environment would be applied to coated samples as well. Indeed, DoD service environments are variable in nature (e.g., beachfront vs. desert) and therefore the intent of the test protocol was to be either specific to a particular service environment or dynamically “tunable” to match the particular service environment in which the coating or alloy substrate is intended to be used in service. Finally, the test protocol was to allow a reasonable prediction of performance lifetime based upon a relatively short timeframe accelerated test.
The Air Force Research Laboratory Final Reports (Parts I, II, III and IV) and Principal Investigator contact information can be accessed at the article link.