1. F-16 System Program Office
Non-Hexavalent Chromium Cr(VI)
William Koftinow
Corrosion Program Manager
AFLCMC/WWMP
F-16 System Program Office
Pound for Pound, the Best Fighter Around!

2. Pound for Pound, the Best Fighter Around!
F-16 Test Plan
Started in April 2013 and completed in July 2017
Two types of Non-Cr(VI) primer were applied to two aircraft located at Eglin AFB
Tested on the Outer Mold Line
Primers applied half/half down center
Surface Treatment
Primer
Topcoat
Aircraft 1
System A
PreKote
AkzoNobel Mg Rich
MIL-PRF-85285
System B
Deft RECC 1015/3012
Deft 02-GN-093
Aircraft 2
System C
FMS 3600
System D
Pound for Pound, the Best Fighter Around!

3. Pound for Pound, the Best Fighter Around!
F-16 Test Plan
Primer selection reasoning
Results from government contracted testing by Battelle at Daytona Beach, FL
AkzoNobel Mg Rich system already approved by Norwegian, German, and Italian air forces
Deft 02-GN-093 was in use fleet-wide on the F-15
Test coating application was performed at Hill AFB Depot
Pound for Pound, the Best Fighter Around!

4. Pound for Pound, the Best Fighter Around!
F-16 Test Results
AkzoNobel Mg Rich system
Areas of metal-to-primer failures
Failures seemed to occur on non-aluminum substrate
Pealing paint around fastener heads
Majority of coating performance was acceptable
Peeling on titanium flap seal
Pound for Pound, the Best Fighter Around!

5. Pound for Pound, the Best Fighter Around!
F-16 Test Results
AkzoNobel Mg Rich system
Peeling around fasteners on titanium panel
Corrosion on fastener heads
Pound for Pound, the Best Fighter Around!

6. Pound for Pound, the Best Fighter Around!
F-16 Test Results
AkzoNobel Mg Rich system
Typical wear from Crew Ladder
Coating peeling on panel hinge
Pound for Pound, the Best Fighter Around!

7. Pound for Pound, the Best Fighter Around!
F-16 Test Results
Deft 02-GN-093 system
Areas of primer-to-topcoat failures
Majority of coating performed acceptably
Topcoat bubbling off primer
Pound for Pound, the Best Fighter Around!

8. Pound for Pound, the Best Fighter Around!
F-16 Test Results
Deft 02-GN-093 system
Typical wear for cockpit area
Topcoat pealing from primer
Pound for Pound, the Best Fighter Around!

9. Pound for Pound, the Best Fighter Around!
F-16 Test Results
Leading edge skin paint peeling
Paint peeling on wing leading edge flap
Pound for Pound, the Best Fighter Around!

10. Pound for Pound, the Best Fighter Around!
F-16 Test Results
Typical results next to In Flight Refueling door
AkzoNobel Side
Deft Side
Pound for Pound, the Best Fighter Around!

11. Pound for Pound, the Best Fighter Around!
F-16 Current Position
Conclusion
Both systems offered acceptable results
Deft product gave the most favorable results
Way Forward
Continue depot removal and application of Cr(VI)primer system as designed for the legacy F-16 Weapon System
Formalize authorization of Non-Cr(VI) as a secondary option to be used where environmental regulations require it
Cr(VI) primer offers superior results
Outer Mold Line only, not tested with other applications such as fuel cells and RAM coatings
Hill AFB Depot has begun using laser de-paint on the F-16 reducing waste stream from 2,000lbs to just ½ cup
Pound for Pound, the Best Fighter Around!