Non-metallic coatings offer a corrosion-resistant solution for maintaining grounding systems on Canadian and allied naval platforms.

Burlington, ON, [May 08, 2026] — Naval vessels operating in marine environments face persistent threats from saltwater corrosion, a challenge that extends well beyond hulls and mechanical structures to the electrical grounding systems, cable terminals, and junction points critical to safe ship operations. When metallic grounding components oxidize and loosen under repeated mechanical stress, contact resistance rises, creating risk of sudden electrical discharge that can endanger both crew and onboard instrumentation.

Galvanic coupling compounds the problem. Mechanical fasteners that join dissimilar metals form galvanic couples in the presence of saltwater, accelerating corrosion along the grain boundaries of common alloys such as stainless steel. The result: unscheduled maintenance, costly downtime, and degraded mission readiness.

A Non-Metallic Solution

MG Chemicals has developed two carbon-based acrylic conductive coatings: 838AR and 839 — designed specifically to address these challenges. Because carbon is non-metallic, it does not corrode when exposed to salts and moisture, and it mitigates galvanic degradation when applied as an intermediate conductive layer between common architectural metals. In independent testing per ASTM B117 (seven-day salt fog), carbon coatings showed zero loss in conductivity, compared to 2x and 50x reductions for nickel and copper coatings respectively.

Beyond metal interfaces, the coatings render non-conductive composite materials (such as modular masts and radomes) sufficiently conductive for static dissipation and grounding, eliminating charge buildup that can lead to damaging electrical discharge. Surface resistance can be tuned by adjusting film thickness, achieving below 100 Ω/sq for carbon and approximately 25 Ω/sq for graphite formulations.

Reducing Lifecycle Costs for Defence Fleets

Integrating carbon-based conductive coatings into routine maintenance programs offers naval operators a practical path to reducing lifecycle costs while preserving electrical reliability. This is particularly relevant as fleets face increasing operational tempos and pressure to extend vessel service lives. Both coatings are single-component, acrylic-based systems, making application straightforward for maintenance crews without specialized equipment.

Read the full version: https://mgchemicals.com/jUWk

MGChemicals.com
[email protected]
905-331-1396​

MG Chemicals, a CADSI and Ontario Defence Association (ODA) member, manufactures specialty chemicals for electronics and defence applications from its facility in Burlington, Ontario. ​

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