Corrosion Control of Central Vehicle Wash Facility Pump Components Using Alternative Alloy Coatings

Central Vehicle Wash Facilities (CVWFs) at military installations are essential for supporting the readiness of tactical vehicles. Steel wash-rack pumps are vulnerable to accelerated degradation where supply water is corrosive and infused with fines. Pump failure can occur with little warning, taking the CVWF out of service for unscheduled maintenance. This project tested two advanced coating materials on critical internal pump components to evaluate cost and performance. At the Fort Polk, LA, CVWF, internal components of one new pump were coated with a thermally sprayed cobalt alloy, and matching components in another pump were coated chemically with an electroless nickel (EN) material.