Examining the effect of graphene nanoplatelets on the corrosion resistance of epoxy coatings
File(s)Examining epoxy coatings final.docx (5.77 MB)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Kopsidas, Sotirios
Olowojoba, Ganiu
Kinloch, Anthony
Taylor, Ambrose
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Graphene due to its two-dimensional structure, large surface area and high impermeability is regarded as an excellent functional filler for the development of anti-corrosive coatings by creating a natural barrier to the diffusion of electrolytes. Epoxy polymers are widely used as protective coatings, and in the present study, commercially-available graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) were dispersed into an epoxy resin using three-roll milling (3RM). The GNP-modified epoxy was coated onto mild steel substrates, and cured. The coated panels were immersed into a corrosive environment of 3.5 wt% NaCl aqueous solution for 4–5 days. The adhesion of the coatings to the substrate was then measured using a cross-cut test. The addition of higher loadings of GNPs resulted in a deteriorating corrosion performance, with the 1.5 wt% and 3 wt% coatings exhibiting 53% and 91% damage, respectively, after the cross-cut tests. The unmodified epoxy and low GNP content coatings (≤0.5 wt%) demonstrated 0% damage. This shows that the corrosion behaviour of GNP/epoxy coatings is not dominated by barrier effects but by electrochemical factors. The addition of GNPs is only effective at low loadings, as higher contents result in electrically-conductive coatings that facilitate the conduction of corrosion currents.
Date Issued
2021-01
Date Acceptance
2020-08-20
Citation
International Journal of Adhesion and Adhesives, 2021, 104, pp.1-12
ISSN
0143-7496
Publisher
Elsevier
Start Page
1
End Page
12
Journal / Book Title
International Journal of Adhesion and Adhesives
Volume
104
Copyright Statement
© 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. This manuscript is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Licence http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Sponsor
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC)
Identifier
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S014374962030186X?via%3Dihub
Grant Number
EP/K016792/1
Subjects
0904 Chemical Engineering
0912 Materials Engineering
0913 Mechanical Engineering
Polymers
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2020-09-07