Standard Hardware and Corrosion: Pershing Problems and Action

During the Pershing reliability testing program, corrosion was encountered on standard mounting hardware. Investigation revealed an extremely low level of compliance of incoming hardware to the plating thickness requirements of military and Martin specifications. Most proposed solutions would have required extensive documentation changes or additional facilities. None of the approaches directly affected the actual cause of the problem: standard mounting hardware vendors supplying material which does not meet purchase requirements. The following approach to the problem has therefore been initiated. 1. A general purchase description for sampling, inspection and test procedures for all standard mounting hardware has been prepared. 2. Samples of hardware from a cross-section of vendors have been ordered under this purchase description. 3. Hardware received under this program will be inspected for compliance with the drawing requirements and the special purchase description. Availability of hardware and cost increases will be analyzed.