Affordable Composites for Corrosion Protection of High-Value Test and Evaluation Assets

"Triton Systems, Inc. (TSI) proposes to develop affordable, corrosion resistant (CR), composite structural materials to protect high-value assets at remote test facilities. The use of virtually corrosion-free polymer matrix composites to cost-effectivelyproduce structures and structural components, shelters, radomes, and antenna support structures will greatly reduce life cycle maintenance costs currently associated with corrosion of ferrous and aluminum alloys. Personnel levels now required forcorrosion maintenance could be reduced. Also, mission readiness is maintained at the highest level by reducing the frequent downtime spent stripping and painting conventional metallic structures based in marine island environments. Environmental impactsfrom corrosion-maintenance and painting waste streams would be ameliorated.The proposed Phase I program will develop the composite materials technology that will enable asset structures to be low cost, practically corrosion free, flame resistant, and to provide the necessary electromagnetic interference (EMI) protection requiredfor test structures and enclosures. Use of composites for fabrication of replacement or new facilities, equipment and components at remote test sites will eliminate maintenance costs and reduce the life cycle costs for operating the test & evaluation facilities over the future decades ofextensive missile defense testing. The proposed processes provide affordable compos