A Low-VOC Chromate-Free Primer

The Advanced Amphibious Assault Vehicle (AAAV) is the United States Marine Corps' newest weapon system that moves three times faster and carries greater firepower than the current amphibian vehicle. The spectacular performance of the AAAV is due in part to the structural use of Aluminum alloy 2519-T87. Aluminum alloy 2519 is an Al-Cu alloy developed as a weldable material, and has ballistic penetration resistance superior to the previously used Al-Mg 5xxx series armor alloys, such as 5083. Unfortunately like other Al-Cu alloys (e.g. Al2024-T3 used in aircraft), alloy-2519 is highly susceptible to corrosion. Thus, high levels of corrosion protection are needed in order to minimize general corrosion, largely in the form of pitting and filliform corrosion and thereby minimize the AAAV's operating and support costs. TDA Research, Inc. (TDA) has developed a novel releasable corrosion inhibitor that offers exceptional protection for high strength Al-Cu alloys. TDA will incorporate these new corrosion inhibitors into a low-VOC epoxy and combine their use with the Navy's hexavalent-chromate-free trivalent chromium conversion coating to make a highly effective corrosion protection system.