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The
corroded electrical connector shown is part of an F-16 aircraft fuel shutoff
valve. The corrosion resulted from the tin-plated steel connector pins
being in contact with gold plated sockets in a wet atmosphere.
· Fretting
between the contacts, with failure of the tin coating and galvanic corrosion
between the dissimilar metal components caused the failure.
·
This
failure had the effect of shutting down the engine (the device is an emergency
shutoff valve)! At least five aircraft crashed due to such corrosion initiated
fuel shutoff. The cost in aircraft is in excess of $100,000,000.
·A
corrosion inhibiting lubricant spray (MIL-L-87177A Grade B) was used to
protect the pins from a conductive surface film and reduce fretting damage
and failure. |
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