LUNA INNOVATIONS INCORPORATED — Department of Defense SBIR Phase II: N111-024

Description

As the roles and materials of modern tactical aircraft have evolved, the coating systems that protect them have become significantly more complicated. Airframe structural components can be especially susceptible to corrosion, as sea water can collect and dwell in these areas. In the coating stack applied to military aircraft, hexavalent chromated primers are used to protect the underlying aluminum structure from corrosion. However, heightened concern over toxicity has led to increased regulation of hex-chrome use and to petitions for their complete replacement with chrome-free inhibitors. Superior corrosion protection is sought, and modern materials may hold the promise of improved corrosion protection without the environmental hazards of chrome. Two novel materials of prominent interest are carbonaceous nanomaterials and non-chrome ion exchange inhibitors. Luna Innovations Incorporated has been developing an innovative chrome-free corrosion resistance primer that synergistically combines these two classes of materials. Luna demonstrated excellent corrosion resistance in the Phase I program in both neutral and acidified salt fog testing.