Effect of polymer coatings on fatigue strength of aluminum alloy 2024 box beams

Previous investigators have shown that polymer coatings raise the fatigue strength of metals tested in air to about the same level as that of uncoated specimens tested in vacuum. The results are given of tests to determine if a polymer coating would improve the fatigue strength of built-up aluminum alloy members simulating aircraft construction. Aluminum alloy 2024-T4 riveted box beams were subjected to constant amplitude fatigue tests in air as well as in salt water fog. The coating did not improve the fatigue strength of beams tested in either environment. This is believed to result from the fact that most failures originated at rivet holes, which were isolated from both the coating and the environment.