Corrosion of metals can greatly harm weapon equipment. It can damage the external luster and surface structure of the weapons; for mechanical components, screws, nuts, and other parts can become loose or rusted; rust contains water, air, and electrolytes, which accelerate the oxidation of the weapons, causing damage.
According to rough estimates, more than 5% of the military equipment and supplies in the U.S. military are scrapped annually due to metal corrosion, and metal corrosion also leads to significant increases in maintenance and protective costs for weapons. According to data from the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. Navy incurs approximately 7 billion dollars in losses annually due to corrosion, with 500 million dollars allocated to repairing corroded Marine Corps ground vehicles. As a result, the U.S. Navy has developed a self-repairing anti-rust wax coating additive for vehicles.
March 20, 2014, the National Navy Technology Network reported that the U.S. Navy Research Laboratory and the Applied Physics Laboratory at Johns Hopkins University have jointly developed a new coating additive that enables the coatings on vehicles like the Marine Corps' Joint Light Tactical Vehicle to possess self-healing properties similar to human skin, thereby preventing rust.
This powder additive is called "Polyforming Fibrocell" and can be added to existing commercial primers. It consists of polymer microspheres filled with oil-based liquids. Upon scratching, the damaged coating's resin forms a waxy waterproof layer on the exposed steel, preventing rust on the vehicle's surface. This technology is particularly suitable for vehicles used in harsh environments. The project began in 2008 and, through the relentless efforts of three project managers from the Naval Research Bureau, achieved a breakthrough in this field, passed experimental testing, and transferred the technology to the Marine Corps Ground Systems project. The research and development of this project is based on the commitment made by the Marine Corps in "Marine Corps Vision and Strategy 2025" to "modernize equipment logistics to expand long-range operational capabilities and maintain maritime combat capabilities."
The primary cause of vehicle corrosion is the influence of salt fog from marine environments during shipping or storage. To address this, U.S. military technicians placed coated steel in a room filled with salt fog during laboratory tests. Results showed that steel coated with polyvinyl cell coatings can remain rust-free for up to six weeks. Compared to other self-healing coatings, the polyvinyl cell undercoat can prevent corrosion in vehicles in various environments. Chief Scientist Bunkss Ke of the project said, "We're not concerned about its aesthetic appeal to vehicles; we're only concerned with preventing corrosion." Frank Ferman, the project leader of the Logistics Research Department for Expeditionary and Counter-Terrorism Operations at the U.S. Navy Research Bureau, also commented, "The anti-corrosion self-healing technology for vehicles can reduce maintenance costs, and more importantly, it can extend the operational time of Marine Corps vehicles on the battlefield."
