A Trade-off Based Assessment Study on Possible Coating Alternatives for Armored Combat Vehicles

Abstract

Armored combat vehicles often encounter harsh service conditions, especially in environments like tropical weather, which in turn necessitates high corrosion resistance regarding durability and/or reliability requirements. Consequently, several solutions are employed to prevent corrosion, beginning from the design phase and extending to maintenance procedures. In many cases, appropriate coating processes are utilized during the design activities, and they can be complemented by specialized painting processes like Chemical Agent Resistant Coating. The selection of suitable coating systems depends on various parameters, including the material of the workpiece, design requirements, and cost-effectiveness. In this regard, the armored combat vehicle industry possesses a distinctive character due to its widespread use of high-strength materials. This reality highlights the phenomenon of hydrogen embrittlement, which can occur due to electroplating or environmental corrosion. If the dissolved hydrogen in the workpiece material reaches a certain threshold, it significantly impairs overall mechanical performance and leads to sudden catastrophic failures. This study aims to compare different coating alternatives in terms of their impact on hydrogen embrittlement in high-strength materials used in armored combat vehicles. To achieve this goal, samples of high-strength steel substrates coated with various alternatives were examined for their susceptibility to hydrogen embrittlement following ASTM F519 standards. To understand the effect of environmental corrosion on hydrogen embrittlement, advanced tests were designed based on preliminary results obtained from ASTM F519 tests, including salt spray tests according to ASTM B117