Analysis Of Hydrophobic Coating On Aircraft Fuel Tank Aluminium Alloy 2024 – T3 To Prevent Corrosion

Abstract

This thesis is about analysing hydrophobic coating implementation on aircraft internal fuel tank surface to prevent from corrosion process. Aircraft fuel tank is normally located in the wing skin itself that is made from Aluminium Alloy 2024 – T3. This 2xxx Aluminium Alloy series has strong mechanical strength and high corrosion resistance. The presence of hot moist air inside the aircraft fuel tank during cold atmospheric temperature can cause the hot air to condense into water inside the tank. The consecutive effect, corrosion process will take place on the fuel tank surface, hence, the material strength of the wing skin will decrease and increase the maintenance costs for replacement. To overcome water adhesion on the fuel tank surface, this project chooses hydrophobic coating as another solution to apply the coating inside the fuel tank. Hydrophobic coating is a coating that can resists water and protects Aluminium Alloy 2024 – T3 by preventing the water from contacting on the fuel tank surface. Several tests has been made to prove the hydrophobic coating can be implement as another good coating film to prevent corrosion inside the fuel tank. The results of the tests are determined by comparing the specimens that coated with hydrophobic film with uncoated surface treatment. This thesis target is to show that hydrophobic coating on Aluminium Alloy 2024 – T3 can overcome the corrosion process and suitable for internal fuel tank coating.