Our aerospace customers report corrosion problems in aircraft including stress corrosion cracking, galvanic corrosion, crevice corrosion and general corrosion. These can often be monitored to avoid operational failure or modelled to ensure best corrosion resistance from the start. ACM equipment is ideal for these aerospace scientists as our instruments are built into appropriate tough and waterproof cases as needed.
In the laboratory when researching fundamental aspects such as mixed metal systems a standard corrosion monitoring system is an essential tool. The preferred choice for aerospace engineers is the Gill 8. This performs all electrochemical corrosion tests, both AC and DC. The AC tests are used where there is appreciable resistance in the solution, for example through coatings or in fuel tanks. The DC tests may be used to study general corrosion (e.g. LPR) or localised (e.g. Current and Voltage Noise). For initial studies or lower budget projects the Gill AC is perfect, offering a cost effective single channel solution. Failure of simple connectors have resulted in aircraft loss, a galvanic test in brine would have easily highlighted this fault and eased the development of a solution.
On-board a Field Machine is the instrument to have. Offering all the capabilities of the laboratory models it may be used via its internal (flight approved) battery where no supply exists.
One on-board solution designed and built by ACM was the miniature crack growth monitor. An array of fine wires was taped to a sensitive spot on the airframe. Each wire was monitored by a microcontroller to determine time of crack. After a years flying time the monitor was interrogated and the history of fatigue crack growth plotted. A simple and compact solution to a real problem. This is a good example of ACM's ability to design unique monitoring instruments. If you have any monitoring problems please contact us, we can help.
See Application Notes for more information on Current and Voltage Noise and LPR techniques.
See Downloads for instrumentation datasheets.
Recommended Instrumentation
- Gill 8
- Gill AC
- Field Machine
- Miniature Crack Growth Monitor
- 0.1Hz Coulometry