Smart Nanostructures for Advanced Corrosion Control

Achieving the U.S. Navy’s goal of reducing manning on ships requires decreasing maintenance-type activities. Reducing corrosion-related maintenance, which at times amounts to nearly half the fleet’s maintenance budget, could lead to significant reductions in operational and support cost and would allow for decreasing man-hours and thus smaller crews. This Phase I project aims to develop and test advanced coating formulations to provide passive corrosion sensing and active on-demand corrosion inhibition for Navy ships by utilizing functionalized nanoparticles as additives in existing epoxy coatings. Smart coatings that provide condition-based sensing/indication of corrosion enable treatment of only real and distinct failures. This more directed approach enables treatment as needed and could significantly minimize the workload in the fleet, as opposed to often unnecessary maintenance solely based on schedule. In addition, an on-demand active corrosion inhibition mechanism increases the longevity of the coating and would be particularly useful in controlling corrosion in a smart ship with reduced manning. BENEFITS: The Technology offers corrosion sensing and on-demand inhibition to allow for decreasing maintenance efforts and reduced manning on Navy ships. The formulation conforms to current military specifications and environmental regulations. The coating formulation is compatible with current application techniques and equipment, and can be produced inexpensively. The technology offers significant commercial potential; ‘smart’ coatings will find applications in commercial shipbuilding, aerospace, and automotive industries as well as in the construction sector for steel-reinforced concrete structures.