LUNA INNOVATIONS INCORPORATED — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: AF191-105

Description

Aircraft reliability and maintainability are critical to the availability and operation of U.S. Air Force aircraft; and one of the biggest threats to availability is corrosion of aircraft systems. Although corrosion protective coatings are the first line of defense for airframe corrosion; the use of chromate inhibitors presents environmental and health risks. For the Combat Rescue Helicopter (CRH), chrome-free coatings are being implemented for the interior and exterior of the HH-60W and this will result in moderate airworthiness risk until 2025 when sufficient field performance data is available. An integrated coating and corrosion health monitoring (ICHM) system will be designed for use on the HH-60W as part of the overall integrated logistics system for CBM and corrosion risk mitigation. The monitoring system will be used to validate coating performance along with airframe sealing technologies, drainage, and air handling to quantify corrosive particulate and water infiltration into airframe compartments. The Luna ICHM will combine environment, corrosivity, and direct coating condition measurements to support proactive maintenance to manage corrosion.