Military Equipment and Machinery

The military services store prepositioned stocks of equipment and material on ships and land in locations around the world to enable the rapid fielding of combat-ready forces. While cost data are limited, the services have estimated that about 25 percent of overall equipment maintenance costs are corrosion related and perhaps as much as one-third of these costs could be reduced through more effective corrosion prevention and mitigation.

Corrosion of military equipment and facilities has been, for many years, a significant and ongoing problem. The corrosion-related problems are becoming more prominent as the acquisition of new equipment is decreasing and the reliability required of ageing systems is increasing. The data provided by the military services (Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps) indicate that corrosion is potentially the number one cost driver in life cycle costs. The total annual direct cost of corrosion incurred by the military service for systems and infrastructure is approximately $20 billion. 

Military equipment and machinery is also often subjected to extended periods of layup before deployment, whether that be prior to active duty, servicing, or retirement.

The environments used for storage can vary greatly depending on whether the storage facility is permanent or in situ. Serviceable parts such as bearings, hatches, hinges, access panels, etc can be victim to corrosion as-well as ingress of dust, sand, mud and moisture. These factors can affect greatly the longevity of the equipment/machinery adding cost for servicing and replacements.

Oxifree metal encapsulation is the ideal solution to storage issues especially where the environment is harsh or corrosive. The sprayable polymeric resin is easily applied in the field and due to its ability to be recycled will allow easy inspection and reapplication.