Department of Defense Corrosion Program

The Department of Defense Corrosion Program is aimed at reducing the impact of corrosion on the cost and availability of DoD equipment and facilities. The program's strategic goal is to improve military readiness through targeted material and nonmaterial solutions that reduce corrosion impacts on weapon systems and infrastructure. This involves focusing RDT&E efforts on research studies and technology development and implementation. The primary objectives include generating products contributing to scientific understanding of material degradation, exploring feasibility of future technologies, and generating knowledge products for data-driven decisions to prioritize corrosion prevention investments. Research areas include improved data analytics, accelerated corrosion test method development, improved surface treatments and coatings, and new materials processing techniques.

The program's advanced research includes Test and Evaluation projects, research studies, and research performed by academic institutions. The program aims to demonstrate and validate mature technologies and advanced research on technologies aimed at reducing costs and increasing availability of DoD weapon systems and facilities. The program has completed 85 projects with an estimated overall return on investment of approximately 17:1. The accomplishments include ongoing projects such as zinc-rich aerosol products for touch-up painting of steel substrates, improved surface preparation and coatings for corrosion control of aluminum substrates, pressure-sensitive adhesive appliques for quick field repair of topcoat damage, and weld-through coatings for prevention of crevice corrosion in skip-welded joints. Additionally, the program plans to initiate demonstration and implementation projects in the coming years to further improve readiness and reduce costs.

Overall, the Department of Defense Corrosion Program aims to address the significant contributor to maintenance costs for DoD equipment and facilities by implementing targeted material solutions that reduce corrosion impacts on availability and affordability. Through ongoing research studies and technology development efforts, the program seeks to improve military readiness by reducing maintenance costs, increasing availability of weapon systems, and improving safety for the warfighter.