Corrosion in service is a serious problem for most military operations. The cost of corrosion
includes manpower, materials used to repair corrosion damage, equipment downtime, and reduced
capacity due to corrosion damage. A considerable number of corrosion problems can be solved by
coatings. However, even the best protective coatings can fail by allowing the slow diffusion of oxygen
and moisture to the metal surface. Corrosion accelerates when a coating delaminates. Often, the
problems start when microscopic nicks or pits on the surface develop during manufacturing or through
wear and tear. This problem can be solved by the incorporation of a self-healing function into the
coating. Several new concepts are currently under development to incorporate this function into a
coating. Conductive polymers, nanoparticles, and microcapsules are used to release corrosion-inhibiting
ions at a defect site.