A collaborative research effort between scientists and engineers from the Air Force Research Laboratory&s Materials and Manufacturing Directorate and The Boeing Company&s Military Transport Aircraft and Phantom Works Divisions has led to the technological development of pre-coated fasteners. Pre-coated fasteners provide superior long-term corrosion protection, improved fatigue life, and improved fastener installations while eliminating the need for environmentally hazardous sealants. The incorporation of pre-coated fasteners on the C- 17A has revolutionized the aerospace industry&s approach to aircraft assembly by improving quality and streamlining the assembly process while providing significant labor cost savings.
