KP Technology has been awarded a contract with the European Space Agency to increase the system capabilities of the Kelvin Probe in order to meet the requirements for their latest research into bimetallic or galvanic corrosion.
The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Composed of 17 member states the ESA is responsible for the coordination and implementation of the European Space programme.
KP Technology has won the Kelvin Probe contract through the opportunities provided by the European Space Agency SME Initiative.
The European Space Agency’s programmes are designed to find out more about Earth, its immediate space environment, our solar system and the universe. ESA also work hard to develop satellite-based technologies and services. The avoidance of galvanic corrosion in the development of satellites is a major standard requirement for the ESA and recent investigations of the galvanic compatibility of different metals have called upon the use of a Kelvin Probe to further understand the properties of the metallic materials that are used in space.
Professor Iain Baikie, Director of KP Technology said “We are delighted with the award of this research contract by an existing customer. Through this program of research, we aim to enhance our system capabilities, allowing KP Technology to enter new markets. The ESA contract will permit us to develop and trial several new technologies which will act as prototypes in areas other than corrosion including forensics and bio-technology.”
To learn more about using the Kelvin Probe for corrosion measurements take a look at the following publication:
Behaviour of a zinc–iron bimetallic couple coated with poly-vinyl butyral lacquer during intermittent exposure to salt solution.
Corrosion Science, Volume 49, Issue 8, August 2007, Pages 3361-3380 E.P. Whyte, J.M. Sykes
