Fastener Remediation for Environmentally Exposed Military Assets

Abstract Connection points on steel structures are often distinguished as critical areas of concern for infrastructure and mechanical failure. Although fasteners are an integral piece in structural integrity, these components are ranked as one of the most frequent points of corrosion caused by environmental exposure or dissimilar metal connections. Due to their detailed geometry, fasteners make evenly applying coatings to metal substrates difficult while also providing a location for moisture build up within crevices. In harsh environmental conditions, where steel installations and construction machinery are open to constant atmospheric weather conditions, corroded fasteners create a huge risk of structural fractures and/or failures. Through simulating severe corrosive environments, via accelerated weathering techniques, fastener corrosion remediation is being investigated for easily implementable ways to mitigate corrosion formed on military assets. Corrosion formation on coated and uncoated fasteners that are applied to metal substrates are being studied to gain better understanding of fastener corrosion rates, dissimilar metal effects, and whether the ability for rust surface removal, followed by applications of inhibitors, can prevent subsequent corrosion formation.