A RESEARCH program has been underway at Rutgers University for approximately three years to investigate the mechanism of the changes which take place with time in the reactive type of Wash Primer WP-1, MIL-C-15328A. This composition, a mixture of phosphoric acid, zinc tetroxychromate, and polyvinyl butyral (PBVA) resin, typically compounded in ethyl and butyl alcohols, possesses unusual merit as a metal conditioner in connection with corrosion inhibition by means of organic coatings. It has an unfortunate tendency, though, to deteriorate with time; it was for this reason that a study of mechanisms involved was made.
The Rutgers program, employing the techniques of physical chemistry, organic chemistry, and polymer chemistry has been concerned with: (a) the fundamental chemistry of the pigment, (b) possible reaction of the phosphoric acid with the resin in the WP-1 mix, and (c) the changes in the WP-1 mix with time.
A phase rule study of the...
