Corrosion Resistant Enhanced Surface Technology (CREST)

To address the need for corrosion inhibiting surface modifications to limit or control cathodic current density on structural materials, Luminit, LLC, and the Advanced Physics Laboratory at Johns Hopkins University propose to develop a new Corrosion Resistant Enhanced Surface Technology (CREST) system based on a modification to our electrophoretic deposition manufacturing process which presently fabricates custom engineered nano- and micro-textured nickel, chrome, and silver surfaces. The proposed novel corrosion inhibition technology intends to take full advantage of the extraordinary mechanical, optical, and chemical properties of uniformly overlapping micron size graphene flakes applied with our proven low-cost, large-scale nanostructured surface fabrication, coating, and replication process methodology. In Phase I, Luminit will demonstrate feasibility by developing a scaled down version of the CREST coating technology, applying it to representative structural materials like fasteners and bushings used in the maritime environment, and conducting proof-of-concept testing. During Phase II we plan to develop the in-situ testing methods to ensure correct coating thickness, and set up a limited production system to fabricate fasteners whose cathode current density potential is significantly reduced.