THE AMERICAN SOCIETY
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 Rick Hepburn and CAPT Sorensen present the Solberg Award to Dr. Arafat |
CITATION:
With over twenty years of research experience in physical, organic and analytical chemistry, Dr. El Sayed Arafat is an internationally respected and widely published researcher, and since joining the Naval Air Systems Command in 2000, he has been instrumental in developing solvent cleansers and corrosive prevention solvents which are expected to significantly reduce the effort required to maintain Navy and Army aircraft. Dr. Arafat has recently submitted four patent applications for Navguard, Mildew Inhibiting Navguard, Navclean, and a Corrosion Inhibiting Mildew Remover Kit all developed in his work with NAVAIR.
Corrosive preventative compounds (CPCs) fogged into internal spaces of airframes are proven to be effective in combating metal degradation in the harsh naval aviation environment. CPCs that provide corrosion protection that lasts for two or more years are highly desired to reduce aircraft maintenance operations and support costs. The newly-developed CPC called Navguard has exhibited superior performance in the laboratory and is currently undergoing extensive field testing to verify that it can meet the two-year performance goal. It promises to decrease aircraft downtime and reduce maintenance cost by enabling a reduction of inspections and maintenance actions.
Mildew growth is a serious problem in the typical naval aviation environment causing chronic health problems and requiring extensive maintenance efforts to repair damage to paint coatings and bare metal surfaces. Navclean, a new corrosion-inhibiting mildew remover, has been developed to remove mildew from aircraft safely and effectively, without the corrosion damage of other cleaning solutions. This new material has already saved countless man-hours of labor for cleaning and disinfecting Army and Navy helicopters, and it has eliminated the problem of corrosion induced by improper cleaning techniques. In addition, early indications are that Mildew Inhibiting Navguard, offers the same corrosion protection as the original Navguard, while simultaneously removing mold and mildew from the affected areas. Testing has also shown a decrease in the reappearance of these organisms. Dr. Arafat’s Corrosion Inhibiting Mildew Remover Kit includes pre-measured amounts of chemical blends which easily combine with water for application on mildew infected areas and which safely clean these areas in 5-15 minutes. Together these products will not only decrease the man-hours required to maintain aircraft, but they will provide a healthier environment for aircraft crews and maintenance personnel.
Dr. Arafat’s outstanding research contributions and commitment to leadership within the field of naval engineering have made him truly most deserving of the ASNE Solberg Award for 2006.