Evaluation of Corrosion and Wear of Non-Skid Deck Surfaces in Marine Environments

Lockwood, Amy M

Etd

Evaluation of Corrosion and Wear of Non-Skid Deck Surfaces in Marine Environments

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The annual cost of corrosion in the United States Navy and Coast Guard is in excess of $2.7 billion dollars. The salt water environment provides a ripe surrounding for rapid corrosion and deterioration of ship decking, which requires frequent and expensive maintenance. Decks of ships are susceptible to corrosion and wear, but must also maintain a non-slip surface in a constantly wet environment. Few options for non-skid deck materials are currently approved for use by the Navy and require frequent and expensive maintenance or replacement. A new material known as Laser Deposited Non-Skid, currently used in industrial flooring applications, shows potential for serving as a more durable non-skid material with extended service life and greater resistance to corrosion. The purpose of this research is to investigate the feasibility of Laser Deposited Non-Skid in decks of ships and to compare the corrosion, wear and cost data with existing deck materials. Sample plates of A36 and A572 steel and 5086 and 5456 marine grade aluminum alloy were coated with selected non-skid materials and subjected to laboratory salt fog testing and corrosion in environmental conditions in the Caribbean Sea. Wear behavior among non-skid materials was evaluated through wear cycles, measurement of coefficient of friction, and surface characterization. Salt fog testing was more corrosive than the actual operational environment in all cases and the Laser Deposited Non-Skid samples had the best resistance to wear and corrosion. The Peel and Stick Non-Skid demonstrated corrosion by undercutting while the Traditional Non-Skid corroded through the material. The relative area did not correlate well with friction or wear mass loss. Aluminum Laser Deposited Non-Skid appears suitable for use as a deck material on small boats. More research is needed to evaluate maintenance issues and possible stress cracking associated with the Laser Deposited Non-Skid on steel decks.

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