US Army Technical Manual, CLEANING AND CORROSIONCONTROL, VOLUME III, AVIONICS AND ELECTRONICS, TM 1-1500-344-23-3, 2005

US Army Technical Manual, CLEANING AND CORROSIONCONTROL, VOLUME III, AVIONICS AND ELECTRONICS, TM 1-1500-344-23-3, 2005

1-1. GENERAL.
1-1.1. Today s military avionic systems assume a
significant share of the responsibility for mission
completion, performance capability, and overall system
safety. The role of avionics includes mission essential
equipment, flight critical equipment, and aircraft
hardware. For example, navigation, communications,
electronic warfare, weapon management, flight/engine
controls and displays, and wiring are all considered
avionics. Electronics and electrical power systems are
also considered avionics. The reliability of these complex
systems in any environment is critical for aircraft flight
and mission essential functions.
NOTE
In this manual, use of the term "avionic systems"
shall refer to any device that uses electrical
power. The term avionic technician shall
include the aviation electrician, aviation
electronic technician, or any personnel
authorized to perform maintenance on avionic
systems.
1-1.2. Corrosion is a major cause of avionic
equipment failures, particularly while installed in military
aircraft. In many cases, even minute amounts of
corrosion can cause intermittent malfunction or
complete failure of the equipment. Past experience
shows that in order to obtain certain electrical
characteristics, for example, low electromagnetic
interference (EMI), a compromise in the design
selection of materials might be needed (for example,
the use of conductive adhesive). Sometimes such
compromises can lead to corrosion problems that are
aggravated by exposure to varying environmental
conditions (for example, EMI corrosion). Avionic
equipment is routinely exposed to varying
environmental conditions. These conditions include
changing temperatures and pressures, varying
humidity, dust, dirt, and industrial pollutants in the
atmosphere that often initiate corrosion.
1-1.3. The types of corrosion that occur on avionic
equipment are similar to those found on airframe
structures. The difference between avionic and airframe
corrosion is that small amounts of corrosion in avionic
equipment can cause intermittent malfunction or
complete failure, while it may not impact airframe
structures.

1-2. PURPOSE. The purpose of this manual is to
provide information on materials and procedures to
prevent, control, and repair corrosion damage to avionics
on land or at sea.

1-3. SCOPE. The material in this manual contains
basic avionic corrosion prevention and corrective
maintenance information to be used at the
Organizational/Unit and Intermediate levels.