This tank is a technological marvel. Which is why it needs an equally advanced cover.
Military vehicles include far more technology than ever before. These new technologies have greatly enhanced the capability of military assets, but have also made them more susceptible to corrosion - which puts their readiness at greater risk. Here’s what makes that technology problematic:
The small scale of electronics means even minuscule amounts of corrosion can cause outsized damage. (Imagine how a little bit of corrosion can impact a solder joint for example.)
It is much harder to inspect things like printed circuit boards than body panels, transmissions or gun barrels.
Even if you could thoroughly inspect all the various electrical components, it would be difficult to spot failures. In fact, many field failures are marked as “No Failure Found” because corrosion is tough to detect even when doing failure analysis.
Early stage corrosion may not lead to full failure, but can alter leakage currents, resulting in output errors, also known as “gremlins.”
Equipment doesn’t need to be in a particularly harsh environment - corrosion is active on things like printed circuit boards even in near ideal environmental conditions.
Now the good news. Protective cover technologies have also advanced. Thanks to new technical textiles, and more sophisticated manufacturing methods, you can better protect your equipment, including their electronics.
Here are three key characteristics you’ll want to make sure your protective covers include:
1. Air-permeability
Air-permeability, which is different than breathability, means that moisture can escape from under the cover as vapor, greatly reducing the “time of wetness” that leads to corrosion.
2. Filtration to less than 1 micron
Dust, dirt, and other particulates are a major problem in electronics because they absorb and hold moisture. With the right cover, you can filter out those particulates and prevent them from trapping moisture. For example, Cocoon’s cover filters down to 0.3 microns, which keeps out fine sand (50 microns), pollen (15 microns), and even small particles of dust (2.5 microns).
3. Embedded Electro-Static Discharge (ESD)
Electronic circuitry is getting progressively smaller, thereby increasing sensitivity to static electricity, which can cause damage and even failure. Cocoon covers use an embedded carbon print (won’t rub off over time) to offload static buildup.
The advanced systems used for navigation, targeting, power distribution, displays, and more, require the most advanced protection possible. Contact us to learn more about the technology used in Cocoon protective covers and the role they play in equipment readiness, performance, and warfighter safety.