Researchers, collaborators, and visiting scientists at the UTSA Corrosion Laboratory at the University of Texas at San Antonio are leading corrosion research that could lead to new ways to make products safer.
With funding from five governmental and industry partners, UTSA professor Brendy Rincon Troconis and her team are using the laboratory to integrate experimental approaches with accelerated degradation through harsh environments—including salts, temperature and humidity—and extensive materials characterization with computational modeling to better understand corrosion and assist industrial partners in mitigating its effects.
One project in collaboration with David Restrepo, assistant professor in the mechanical engineering department, and with co-principal investigator Rincon Troconis, supports the U.S. Office of Naval Research by investigating the effect of stress on corrosion kinetics.
“A report from aircraft teardowns showed that nearly 80% of cracks on military aircrafts have been found in close proximity to corrosion sites,” Rincon Troconis said. “Considering that aircrafts are also exposed to mechanical stress, it’s important to best understand how they affect corrosion. This can be done through the evaluation of corrosion and attack on structural alloys in relevant conditions. All this information can feed structural life management tools and lead to more efficient maintenance schedules.”
The UTSA Corrosion Laboratory is also working with BASF Chemetall to explore surface treatments used in auto body paneling and their interaction with epoxy adhesives used in the production of vehicles. In this project, an improved coating adhesion testing protocol is being developed to quantitatively measure adhesion strength under relevant conditions.
The lab has also partnered with Texas-based Twin Hawk LLC to refine a commercial grade coating that minimizes corrosion and improves the durability of the reinforced concrete over time.
“We have previously demonstrated the efficiency of Twin Hawk’s product and are now bringing the chemical production onto campus to optimize the surface preparation and coating process parameters, and expand the testing to include accelerated corrosion chambers and field testing related to reinforced concrete applications,” Rincon Troconis explained.
Additionally, as part of the Transport Consortium of South-Central States, the research team is collaborating with Universidad de Costa Rica and Texas A&M University to test an environmentally sustainable corrosion inhibitor to increase the durability of reinforced concrete in a sustainable way, while minimizing risks to humans and the broader environment.
The Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) has awarded $4 million to the Consortium for Advanced Manufacturing to develop and sustain the Consortium of Advanced Additive Manufacturing Research and Education for Energy Related Systems (CA2REERs). This group will expose, recruit, engage and train students from underrepresented groups for career advancement in manufacturing for energy.
Other collaborative research projects involve its partners at UT Rio Grande Valley, the University of Arizona, the Los Alamos National Laboratory and the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The NNSA grant will support institutional capability in developing research in advanced material, advanced manufacturing and renewable energy. Rincon Troconis’ research will focus on atmospheric corrosion and hydrogen embrittlement of additively manufactured alloys.
Image – Professor Brendy Rincon Troconis (third from left) joins students in the UTSA Corrosion Research Laboratory.
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University of Texas at San Antonio
