Physical Optics Corporation — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: AF161-130

Description

ABSTRACT: To address the U.S. Air Force need for enhanced and augmented scanning Kelvin probe (SKP)-based techniques for the characterization and quantification of protective coating degradation and detection of corrosion, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to develop a new Outer Potential Scanner (OPS) technique. It is based on the direct measurement of electric charge in the immovable, vibration-less electrode: Specifically, a new combination of additional electrodes and a novel induced charge transducer to measure the localization of charge on the tested surface as well as across the coating layer. As a result, OPS technology offers high sensitivity and unique capabilities in the design that allow field application. In Phase I, POC plans to demonstrate the feasibility of OPS technology to quantitatively measure coating degradation and detect corrosion in multilayer structures by building a single-probe conceptual prototype and evaluating it extensively under laboratory conditions, thus reaching TRL-3. In Phase II POC will design, build, and evaluate a prototype OPS multiprobe system to reveal the degree to which AFRL goals have been achieved and to validate meeting detection and quantification levels established in Phase I, reaching TRL-5. The prototype will be delivered to AFRL for further evaluation.; BENEFIT: Corrosion is possibly the most important factor in the inflation of life-cycle costs of military vehicles and structures. Therefore, effective life-cycle supervision of military assets requires an efficient health monitoring program to prevent, detect, and control corrosion. In this respect, nondestructive testing (NDT), nondestructive evaluation (NDE), and nondestructive inspection (NDI) can play important roles in this effort, particularly by monitoring, detecting, and reporting the early stages of corrosion before the damage becomes significant. It is of particular importance for the military, due to the long operational life cycle of military vehicles and structures. Being fast, noninvasive, and sensitive, the OPS technology and equipment are exact matches to this purpose. Corrosion monitoring, detection, and remediation are important not only for the military but for civilian vehicles and structures as well, where corrosion results in the loss of investment and short lifetimes of machinery and equipment.