Advanced Coating Evaluation Metrics

The cost of corrosion for Air Force aircraft and missiles is estimated to be $5.7 billion per the 2018 LMI Cost of Corrosion report. The first line of defense and single most important factor in controlling structural corrosion of aircraft is the protective coating system. Advance coating performance test systems have been developed that measure the failure modes of greatest concern for aircraft structural integrity. These advanced coating evaluation metrics (ACEM) will be evaluated in DoD interlaboratory tests to establish a standard test method for quantifying coating barrier properties and capability to protect structural alloys from localized corrosion, galvanic corrosion, and environment assisted cracking (EAC). The transition effort will result in a U.S. national standard coating test method, technology validation, and requirements to qualify and select coatings according military performance specifications (MIL-PRF-32239, MIL-PRF-23377, and MIL-PRF-85582). It is anticipated this effort will verify the test capability to bring the Technology and Manufacturing Readiness Levels to 8 (TRL/MRL 8).