United States. The University of Oklahoma has received a boost from the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex (OC-ALC) at Tinker Air Force Base.
The goal is to develop a primer free of chromium-containing materials to protect U.S. military aerospace equipment from corrosion.
Led by the Gallogly College of Engineering and the Oklahoma Aerospace and Defense Innovation Institute at the University of Oklahoma, this projectwill evaluate chrome-free commercial and experimental primers that eliminate exposure to materials of interest to workers, as well as provide more environmentally friendly solutions.
"The ability to collaborate with researchers at the University of Oklahoma is vital to the Air Force's ability to meet future mission challenges," said OC-ALC Commander Brig. Gen. Brian R. Moore. "This project is one of many we are working on with the University of Oklahoma to improve our maintenance and modernization capabilities, further protecting our workforce."
"This project greatly expands our ongoing research efforts to develop innovative, chromium-free organic coatings. These primers will provide excellent corrosion protection and adhesion to pre-treated aluminum alloys, while offering exceptional fluid strength and outstanding flexibility," said John Klier, principal investigator of the project and dean of the Gallogly College of Engineering.
Starting in 2021, researchers at the university began working with the OC-ALC to evaluate and identify epoxy-based primer compositions. Its goal was to help the U.S. Air Force eliminate the use of hexavalent chromium and reduce the environmental impact and costs associated with its use and disposal.
According to Klier, the research team has developed several chromium-free additive prototype systems, and the spray and testing infrastructures are already underway. Implementation and evaluation of the formulation are ongoing.
"Our link with the University of Oklahoma is critical to our ability to meet the challenges of future missions," said the retired general Robin Rand, Executive Director of OADII. "These awards reinforce our educational partnership agreement with OC-ALC and are an outstanding example of how the university's growing development of research and technology in the national security sector can impact some of the Air Force's most pressing needs today and in the years to come."
Klier will lead the project along with Brian Grady, Douglas and Hilda Bourne Chair in Chemical Engineering in the School of Chemical, Biological and Materials Engineering, and Wilson Merchán-Merchán, assistant professor in the School of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering. The project will be managed by OADII's Chief Operating Officer, LTC (ret.) Cliff Wojtalewicz. OU signed an educational partnership agreement with OC-ALC in July 2020 to foster the development of aerospace and defense technologies, as well as improve and strengthen science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education.
