Expanding Access to Critical Resources for Surface Engineering
The Department of War (DoW) spends more than $20 billion annually addressing corrosion and material degradation across defense systems. Protecting weapons systems from corrosion, wear, and environmental damage is critical to maintaining readiness, safety, and long-term performance. Many traditional surface treatments and coatings used to provide this protection pose growing regulatory and supply chain challenges.
To address these risks, SERDP and ESTCP are advancing and demonstrating alternative surface engineering technologies that maintain or improve defense performance while reducing reliance on materials impacted by regulatory and supply chain disruption. This work supports the transition to safer coatings and treatment processes that meet demanding operational and maintenance requirements.
ASETS workshops convene DoW repair facilities, weapons system manufacturers, researchers, and industry partners to exchange information on emerging technologies, performance data, approvals, and implementation strategies for next-generation coatings and surface engineering solutions.
ASETS Workshops
The ASETS initiative led by SERDP and ESTCP provides defense organizations with information and assistance to improve weapons system performance and life-cycle cost while reducing or eliminating financial and regulatory impacts from coatings and treatment processes that utilize hexavalent chromium (hex chrome, Cr6+, Cr(VI), chromate, chromic acid); coatings that contain cadmium; and coatings that contain volatile organic compounds (VOC).
ASETS workshops convene DoW repair facilities, weapons system manufacturers, researchers, and industry partners to exchange information on emerging technologies, performance data, approvals, and implementation strategies for next-generation coatings and surface engineering solutions.
Join us on August 11-13th at the 2026 ASETS Workshop at the Hyatt Regency in Salt Lake City! Please submit abstracts by July 6th.
We have confirmed a block of rooms at the Hyatt Regency Salt Lake City at the federal per diem rate of $142/night (plus taxes and fees). The hotel rates are valid until the room block is sold out or until Friday, July 10, 2026.
ASETS Database
The ASETS database is integrated into EC-SMART, a specialized decision-support platform that provides DoW pertinent information on emerging chemicals (ECs) and chemical alternatives to improve decision-making. EC-SMART supports environmental and safety compliance by helping users understand how chemicals and materials are used, find applicable pending regulations or toxicological changes that may impact chemical availability, understand efforts by the Department to mitigate risk, and discover potential alternatives.
Within EC-SMART, the ASETS database offers detailed engineering data, background documents, and information on validated processes and products for surface engineering alternatives that have been validated, authorized, or implemented. This resource equips users with the necessary tools to make informed decisions on the use of alternatives to materials and technologies for surface engineering to maintain mission readiness and promote supply chain resilience.
Access is limited to those with a Common Access Card (CAC), Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card, or two-factor authentication login. Approval is granted by an EC-SMART administrator. For general questions on the tool and its content, please reach out to ec-smart@noblis.org.
