Antimicrobial Coating Development

Author(s):

Dawn Crawford and John Escarsega

Abstract:

US Army coatings provide essential protection to Army assets in numerous ways, including camouflage, corrosion resistance, and chemical agent resistance. Although it has been known since WWII that military equipment is susceptible to microbial attack and deterioration, Army chemical agent resistant coatings (CARCs) do not have requirements for microbial resistance. To address this need, the US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Army Research Laboratory initiated a program to assess the microbial resistance of water-dispersible CARCs (MIL-DTL-64159B) and the use of low concentrations of commercial biocides to minimize problems with mold, algae, and mildew growth on CARCs. This report summarizes the findings of this program and the new requirement for fungal resistance of the water-dispersible CARC recently published in MIL-DTL-64159 Rev C, March 2022.