Estimated Navy Cost Avoidance:
| As announced during the recent Senior Steering Group meeting, this project has been completed. A formal final report was submitted to the Navy in July 2009. We have closed this project out. |
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Problem:
| The Navy has been attempting, using various techniques, to increase the interval between recoatings in large shipboard tanks and voids. New paints, improved painter and quality assurance training and the use of dessicants have been implemented. However, the interval has not achieved the 20-year goal. The process has shifted to reducing or eliminating the presence of corrosion-causing water vapor and chlorides. |
Solution:
| For a number of years, the Navy has been using VCIs, in limited amounts, to protect small cabinets and enclosures, such as computer cases, junction boxes and circuit breaker boxes. While quantitative data is lacking, the Navy is convinced that VCIs do indeed work. Facing the problem of continuing corrosion in large tanks, they have posed the question: Can VCIs be effectively used in a much larger volume? MTTC is assisting NSWC/Carderock to evaluate the use of VCIs in shipboard voids. MTTC will be drafting a Technology Readiness Assessment (TRA), assisting in the shipboard test installation, collecting data from numerous suppliers, drafting an Installation Procedure and drafting a Commercial Item Description (CID). |
Fleet Impact:
| Any improvement in the open, inspect and/or paint periodicity, fleetwide can dramatically reduce the cost of overhauls and overall maintenance. If the lifetime of a paint coat in voids can be improved to 20 years, the tanks would only have to be refinished once in a nominal 40 year ship service life. |
Applications:
| All Aircraft Carriers, Surface Combatants and Amphibious Ships |
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