2009 Frank Newman speller award lecture: Prevention and control of corrosion in aircraft components - Changes over four decades

The author has been involved in corrosion prevention and control for Australian Defence Force (ADF, Canberra, Australia) aircraft and helicopters for more than 40 years. During those years, polymeric and conversion coatings and plated metallic layers have been the major technologies used for preventing corrosion. Chromate inhibitors and cadmium metal coatings traditionally have provided the basis for the protection of aluminum alloys and steels. However, both chromates and cadmium are highly toxic, and because of government legislation, there has been pressure over the years to use more environmentally friendly inhibitors and coatings. Over the past 15 years, aircraft operators and maintainers have continued to search for ways to reduce maintenance costs and hours, and to increase aircraft availability. This has led the aircraft industry to use other forms of applying corrosion protection and control, such as corrosion-inhibiting compounds, dehumidification, and inhibitor-containing wash detergents and rinsing solutions. Throughout his career, the author has been fortunate to be involved in research programs to assess, develop, and apply many of these new technologies. This paper will outline some of the work carried out in these areas at Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO, Melbourne, Australia), and, linking to Monash University (Melbourne, Australia) over a long period, highlights some of the benefits of this work to the ADF. Some of the challenges ahead for corrosion scientists and engineers in corrosion prevention and control on aircraft components are also discussed. © 2010, NACE International