LUNA INNOVATIONS INCORPORATED — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: Ocean vessels require cathodic protection of their hulls, tanks, and flooded spaces to pre

Description

Ocean vessels require cathodic protection of their hulls, tanks, and flooded spaces to prevent corrosion at coating defects. Impressed current cathodic protection (ICCP) systems may be used in place of sacrificial anodes, especially for hard-to-repair locations and improved electromagnetic signature control. Current ICCP anodes, although highly efficient, have poor mechanical durability and are frequently damaged during unexpected impact loads. The Luna team proposes to develop new ICCP anode materials that will offer robust mechanical properties in addition to highly efficient electrical and electrochemical performance. Such anode materials will have the capability to withstand unexpected impact loads with minimal damage. The proposed Phase I would include design, modeling, fabrication, and evaluation of improved ICCP anode materials by applying metrics for fracture toughness, current and voltage carrying capacity, electrochemical stability, service life predictions, and others. Phase II would involve further prototype fabrication and begin the process of commercial scale-up and validation.