Definition
A specially formulated paint applied to surfaces inside and around aircraft battery compartments to protect the underlying metal from corrosion caused by battery electrolyte. For lead-acid batteries the paint is formulated to resist sulfuric acid; for nickel-cadmium batteries it is formulated to resist alkaline (potassium hydroxide) electrolyte.
Plain English
A protective coating that stops battery fluid from eating away at the metal it touches.
Context Anchor
Seen in aircraft maintenance, especially around lead-acid batteries and battery compartment inspections.
Why Pilots Care
Protects aircraft structure from hidden corrosion that could compromise strength and airworthiness over time.
Intuition Check
Acid-resistant does not mean acid-proof forever. It means the coating is made to resist acid long enough to protect the surface, but spills still need to be cleaned up properly.
Example Sentence 1
During the annual inspection, the mechanic touched up the acid-resistant paint inside the battery compartment where the coating had worn thin.
Example Sentence 2
During preflight, the pilot noticed the acid-resistant paint on the lower fuselage had begun to flake and scheduled maintenance.