July 1, 2011
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Fort Bragg, N.C. — ERDC Construction Engineering and Research Laboratory (CERL) Chemist Susan Drozdz, with industry partner Tesla NanoCoatings Limited, were selected to receive the R&D Magazine's2011 R&D 100 Award for their "Teslan Carbon Nanocoating."
The Teslan® Carbon Nanocoating is an epoxy polyamide primer for steel surfaces formulated with fullerene carbon nanotubes and features a reduced zinc content that makes it unique in the market.
The coating forms a high-quality barrier film reinforced by the carbon nanotubes and provides corrosion protection via the electrically conductive nanotubes and an optimized amount of anodic metal dust.
This nanocoating is the innovative foundation of a complete coating system, which also includes a compatible polyurethane topcoat.
The principal developers are Tesla NanoCoatings Limited's Todd Hawkins, and Drozdz of the CERL Paint Technology Center.
The first test panels were coated at ERDC in 2005, and the coating was first evaluated in the field when it was applied under an ERDC project to the exterior surfaces of a 200,000 gallon fuel storage tank at Fort Bragg, N.C., last year.
Learn more about nanocoatings at the CorrDefense Web site.