Microbes are known to inhabit water-fuel interfaces and are known to utilize the fuel’s hydrocarbon as food (this fact was established some 75 years ago); however, few people recognized that fuel contaminated with microbe infested, dirty water was completely incompatible with the sophisticated structure used in integral fuel tanks of modern day jet aircraft. In addition to their ability to survive, and thrive, in a fuel-water environment, certain species of microorganisms deteriorate fuel tank coatings and some species foster corrosion by enzyme action and subsequent metabolizing the elements in metal alloys. (All corrosion of integral fuel tanks is not to be explained by this mechanism, however, as it is well known that corrosion is not dependent on the presence of microbiological contamination.) Microorganisms, and particularly, fungi, contribute further to the corrosion problem by restricting the free drainage of water from the fuel tanks and by holding moisture in contact with the metal structure for extended periods of time.

Subject
Costs, Water, Materials, Contamination, Aircraft, Structures, Contaminants, Polyurethanes, Sealants, Tank bottoms, Fasteners, Drainage, Microorganisms
© 1969 Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP). All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of AMPP. Positions and opinions advanced in this work are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of AMPP. Responsibility for the content of the work lies solely with the author(s).
1969
Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP)
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