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TO 1-1-700 - Robins Air Force Base

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<strong>TO</strong> 1-1-<strong>700</strong><br />

3.8.7 CRES/Stainless Steel. Basically, stainless steels or<br />

corrosion resistant steels (CRES) as they are more properly<br />

described, are alloys of iron with chromium and nickel. Many<br />

other elements, such as sulfur, molybdenum, vanadium,<br />

cobalt, columbium, titanium, and aluminum are added in various<br />

amounts and combinations to develop special characteristics.<br />

Stainless (CRES) steels are much more resistant to<br />

common rusting, chemical action, and high temperature oxidation<br />

than ordinary steels, due to the formation of an invisible<br />

oxide film or passive layer on the surface of these alloys.<br />

Corrosion and heat resistance are the major factors in selecting<br />

stainless (CRES) steels for a specific application. However, it<br />

should be well understood that stainless (CRES) steels are not<br />

the cure-all for all corrosion problems due to service conditions<br />

which can destroy the oxide film on their surfaces. Stainless<br />

(CRES) steels are highly susceptible to crevice/<br />

concentration cell corrosion in moist, salt laden environments<br />

and can cause galvanic corrosion of almost any other metal<br />

with which they are in contact if proper techniques of sealing<br />

and protective coating are ignored. Stainless (CRES) steels<br />

may be magnetic or non-magnetic. The magnetic steels are<br />

identified by numbers in the American Iron and Steel Institute<br />

(AISI) 400-series, such as 410, 430, etc. These steels are not<br />

as corrosion resistant as the non-magnetic steels which are<br />

identified by numbers in the AISI 300-series, such as 304,<br />

316, etc. The AISI 300-series steels have nickel contents ranging<br />

from 6% to 22%, while the 400-series steels have nickel<br />

contents of only 2%.<br />

3.8.8 Nickel and Chromium. Nickel and chromium are<br />

used as protective platings. Chromium plating is also used to<br />

provide a smooth, wear-resistant surface and to reclaim worn<br />

parts. Where corrosion resistance in a marine environment is<br />

required, a nickel under-coat is used. The degree of protection<br />

is dependent upon plating thickness. Both of these metals form<br />

continuous oxide coatings that can be polished to a high luster<br />

and still protect not only themselves but also any underlying<br />

metal. Chromium platings contain micro-cracks, and corrosion/rust<br />

originates on the base metal below these separations<br />

and spalls the plating from the surface. Figure 3-22 shows the<br />

results of a failed chromium plate.<br />

3.8.9 Silver, Platinum, and Gold. These metals do not corrode<br />

in the ordinary sense, although silver tarnishes in the<br />

presence of sulfur. The tarnish is a brown-to-black film. Gold<br />

tarnish is not really corrosion but is a very thin layer of soils or<br />

contaminants that shows up as a darkening of the reflecting<br />

surfaces. Silver and gold are used extensively in C-E-M equipment<br />

because of their high degree of conductivity and solderability.<br />

All these metals are highly cathodic to almost all other<br />

metals and can cause severe galvanic corrosion of almost any<br />

metal with which they are in contact in the presence of moisture<br />

if joint areas are not sealed or otherwise insulated.<br />

3.8.10 Graphite (Carbon) Fiber/Epoxy Composites and<br />

Fiberglass Materials. Graphite or carbon fiber/epoxy composites<br />

are materials consisting of reinforcing fibers in a<br />

matrix of an organic epoxy resin. They are an important class<br />

of materials because of their high strength-to-weight ratios and<br />

high stiffness. Since carbon is the least active metal in the<br />

galvanic series, it will accelerate the corrosion of any metal to<br />

which it is coupled; so insulation, usually with sealants,<br />

between graphite/epoxy composites and other metals is an<br />

absolute necessity to prevent dissimilar metal attack on the<br />

attached part. Graphite/epoxy composites are not frequently<br />

encountered in C-E-M and associated equipment, but fiberglass<br />

materials are used extensively as the foundation of<br />

printed circuit/wiring boards and skin panels of vans and shelters.<br />

Fiberglass materials consist of a mat of cut glass fibers or<br />

a woven mesh of long glass fibers in a matrix of either an<br />

epoxy or a polyester resin. Skin panels of some vans and shelters<br />

may be fabricated from Kevlar® fiber mesh in an epoxy<br />

resin matrix. The fiberglass and Kevlar® materials present no<br />

galvanic couple problems, but the joint areas between these<br />

types of panels and their metal support frames or structures<br />

should be faying surface sealed to prevent fluid intrusion that<br />

can lead to corrosion of the metal components.<br />

3.9 CORROSIVE ENVIRONMENTS.<br />

Corrosion of C-E-M and associated equipment is caused by<br />

both natural and man-made environments. Natural conditions,<br />

which affect the corrosion process, are moisture, temperature,<br />

salt atmospheres, ozone, sand, dust, solar radiation, insects and<br />

birds, and microorganisms. Man-made conditions, which also<br />

affect the corrosion process, are industrial pollution, manufacturing<br />

operations, storage conditions, and shipment. By understanding<br />

these conditions, maintenance personnel will be<br />

better able to prevent damage by corrosion.<br />

3.9.1 Moisture. Moisture is present in air as a gas (water<br />

vapor) or as finely divided droplets of liquid (mist or fog) and<br />

often contains contaminants such as chlorides, sulfates, and<br />

nitrates, which increase its corrosive effects. Moisture enters<br />

all areas of equipment that air can enter. All enclosed areas<br />

that are not sealed allow air to enter and leave as the pressure<br />

between inside and outside changes. These pressure changes<br />

occur when the atmospheric pressure changes and when the air<br />

temperature inside or outside of an enclosed area changes.<br />

Moisture condenses out of air when the air becomes too cool<br />

to hold all of the moisture in it. The dew found on equipment<br />

exterior surfaces, and many times on their interior surfaces,<br />

after a cool night is the result of condensation.<br />

3.9.2 Condensed Moisture. Condensed moisture will usually<br />

evaporate as surrounding air warms; but its dissolved contaminants,<br />

including salts, will be left behind as residues or<br />

deposits on the surfaces. This can result in the build-up of<br />

soils and salt contamination. Condensed moisture and its con-<br />

3-16

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