Corrosion (WPAFB)

We perform quick reaction analyses of failures caused by corrosion. Our focus is on material degradation and its prevention. Activities include characterization of metallic corrosion, evaluation of corrosion protection systems and coating system degradation, and the assessment of corrosion failures. Mechanisms of corrosion and coating system degradation are also studied. Unique rain and dust erosion test facilities complement the corrosion facilities.

Our corrosion laboratory has everything needed to provide a thorough evaluation. Our lab is located on-site in the Materials Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (WPAFB) and is available to support both DoD and industrial customers.  We can also perform testing and analysis at UDRI on campus as needed. Government customers can utilize our laboratory capabilities through a variety of interagency fund transfers (e.g., MIPR, FCA), and in many cases through the Design and Engineering Support Program (DESP). Commercial customers can access these laboratory resources via a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) between UDRI and Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), or through the Collaborative Technologies Clusters program (CTeC) administered through the Edison Material Technology Center (EMTEC).

Our researchers are active in professional societies (i.e. NACE, ECS, ASM, and ACS) and are familiar with Technical Orders, Military Specifications, ASM, and ASTM standards for performing standard corrosion testing and materials compatibility testing. We have many years of experience in performing corrosion test methods and reporting results. Researchers are also actively involved in the development of new test methods to better assess corrosion-related issues and to remove subjectivity from corrosion testing. 

With advances in materials properties and characterization techniques, there is a need to reevaluate and improve current test measurements and standards to more accurately measure the degradation behavior of materials and coating systems. We have developed test procedures to more accurately assess the effectiveness of corrosion abatement technologies in the laboratory using various accelerated exposure chamber environments. Our group has also developed an atmospheric fatigue test chamber to study crack growth rates in realistic environments (non-immersion).

This capability at WPAFB is complemented by a corrosion capability located on campus.