Corrosion treatments and the fatigue of aerospace structural joints

Corrosion Inhibiting Compounds (CICs) retard or prevent degradation by corrosion, and are used widely in aviation, particularly in large aircraft with well-developed Corrosion Prevention and Control Programs. The diverse General Aviation sector, including small airliners, also benefit, but are poorly supported in terms of guidelines for CIC selection and application. One risk is that lubricating chemicals (like CICs) might affect the fatigue performance of structural joints, and potentially affect the overall economic or safe life of the aircraft.