How to Prevent Aircraft Corrosion

Aircraft corrosion not only incurs heavy financial strain due to the repair costs involved, but also jeopardizes aircraft safety. One of the consequences of aircraft corrosion is discoloration, primarily red (common rust), green, or white. Furthermore, etching and pitting can lead to the development of cracks not only in the aircraft fuselage, but also in spare parts and circuit boards. Therefore, corrosion can impact aircraft readiness in more ways than one, and the only viable way to preserve aircraft safety is to prevent corrosion completely. For this reason, this article aims to serve as a comprehensive guide on how aircraft corrosion can be prevented.

What Are the Different Types of Aircraft Corrosion?

Understanding different forms of corrosion is necessary for taking unique steps to remove or prevent them completely. Corrosion of metal is subject to different factors such as the general atmospheric conditions, size, and shape of the metal body, and the specific functionality of the metal used. Given below are some of the most common types of corrosion that modern aircraft can encounter:

• Uniform Corrosion

This is the most generalized form of corrosion caused by the exposure of a metal surface to a highly corrosive environment, leading to a gradual weakening of the metal surface. Rusting of iron in the presence of moisture is the most common example of uniform corrosion.

• Stress Corrosion

As the name suggests, stress corrosion occurs in an aircraft when it experiences high-stress levels. Also known as cracking, this corrosion occurs primarily in the plane’s crankshaft and  landing gear. In addition, undetected scratches or even primary surface corrosion can lead to the development of stress corrosion.

•  Intergranular Corrosion

Intergranular corrosion impacts the grain boundaries of an alloy. It is frequently associated with an absence of uniformity within the alloy structure, particularly in the case of aluminum alloy and stainless steel.

•  Pitting Corrosion

Although pitting corrosion might seem relatively minor, it can cause significant damage to the aircraft if left unchecked. Particularly common in magnesium and aluminum alloys, and pitting corrosion is characterized by the presence of a gray or white powdery appearance. Pitting moisture most commonly attacks the aircraft propeller blades and incorrectly installed de-ice boots.

How to Prevent Aircraft Corrosion?

Being aware of the different types of corrosion that can impact aircraft health is half the battle won. The real deal is adopting appropriate preventative measures to preclude even the slightest chance of corrosion taking root. Given below are some of the tried-and-tested methods to prevent aircraft corrosion:

• Thorough cleansing of the airplane’s surface ensures the removal of debris and other corrosive substances trapped within the crevices. Landing gear, joints, hinges, gaps, and other parts exposed to environmental damage are especially at risk and should be taken care of extremely well.
•  Aircraft turbines can be protected using barrier coatings, including plastic, paint, and powder. The most commonly used powders are nylon, epoxy, and urethane, which cling to the metal surface to act as a resistant shield. Paints, too, work to prevent electrochemical elements from corroding the metal surface.
• Hot Dip Galvanizing (HDG) has also emerged as a valuable method for protecting steel surfaces, particularly with the help of zinc. The process of HDG entails not only galvanizing, but also pre-treatment, as well as post-treatment surface preparation for long-lasting effects.

Wrapping Up

Preventing aircraft corrosion depends on adopting suitable precautionary measures and procuring quality parts that resist corrosion altogether. Such parts can be sourced from reliable suppliers like Aircraft Hardware for Sale. We are well-known in the aviation industry for the timely delivery of all NSN components and other parts suitable for diverse applications. Contact us today to experience the best in customer assistance and parts procurement.

1. robert desuza
2. Posted on April 24, 2022
aviation safety