Proceedings Article | 30 April 2007
KEYWORDS: Corrosion, Sensors, Prototyping, Polymers, Nanotechnology, Microelectromechanical systems, Flexible circuits, Electroluminescence, Defense and security, Visualization
The main objective of the U.S. Army's Active Coatings Technologies Program is to develop technologies that
can be used in combination to tailor coatings for utilization on Army Materiel. The Active Coatings Technologies
Program, ACT, is divided into several thrusts, including the Smart Coatings Materiel Program, Munitions Coatings
Technologies, Active Sensor packages, Systems Health Monitoring, Novel Technology Development, as well as other
advanced technologies. The goal of the ACT Program is to conduct research leading to the development of multiple
coatings systems for use on various military platforms, incorporating unique properties such as self repair, selective
removal, corrosion resistance, sensing, ability to modify coatings' physical properties, colorizing, and alerting logistics
staff when tanks or weaponry require more extensive repair. A partnership between the U.S. Army Corrosion Office at
Picatinny Arsenal, NJ along with researchers at the New Jersey Institute of Technology, NJ, Clemson University, SC,
University of New Hampshire, NH, and University of Massachusetts (Lowell), MA, are developing the next generation
of Smart Coatings Materiel via novel technologies such as nanotechnology, Micro-electromechanical Systems (MEMS),
meta-materials, flexible electronics, electrochromics, electroluminescence, etc.
This paper will provide the reader with an overview of the Active Coatings Technologies Program, including an
update of the on-going Smart Coatings Materiel Program, its progress thus far, description of the prototype Smart
Coatings Systems and research tasks as well as future nanotechnology concepts, and applications for the Department of
Defense.
