European Conference on Smart & Functional Coatings September 2013, Torino, Italy

ORGANICCOATINGSCONTAININGPANiANDCERIUMOXIDENANOPARICLES FORCORROSIONPROTECTION

F.Deflorian,L.GEcco,M.Fedel

DepartmentofIndustrialEngineering,UniversityofTrento,TrentoItaly

Abstract The research activity presented in this work was focused on the application of polyaniline and cerium oxide nanoparticles as corrosion inhibitors into organic coatings for steel protection. It mainly aims to elucidate the active protection mechanisms and an eventual synergismeffectbetweenthephysicalmixtureofboth;PANiandceriumoxide. The development of smartcoatings with enhanced corrosion protection could help in reducingtheuseoftraditionalchemicalcompoundwithhighenvironmentalimpact. Introduction Certain pigments inside paints such as chrome VI compounds used for corrosion protection of steel are attributed to have environmental and human health issues. Driven by regulations [1], corrosion scientists were challenged to develop novel effective systems more environmentally friendly and not hazardous to human health. Since then, various materials are being considered promising due to their likely anticorrosive properties in commonwithnontoxiccharacteristics. Polyaniline (PANi) gained attention as promising candidate for anticorrosive applications, after the reported work by DeBerry [2]. It has been demonstrated that electrodeposited polyanilinefilmreducedthecorrosionrateofthe400seriesstainlesssteelonsulphuricacid solution. Several works with respect to the use of cerium salts [3, 4] and more recently ceriumoxidenanoparticles[5]toprotectmetalshavebeenreportedaswell. As part of a larger collaborative research project, the present study reports an investigation about the application of polyaniline and cerium oxide nanoparticles as corrosion inhibitors into organic coatings for steel protection. Besides, it aims to elucidate the active protection mechanisms and an eventual synergism effect between the physical mixture of both; PANi andceriumoxide. Experimental The studied coating systems were composed by two different binders, one waterborne styrene/acrylic latex and one solventborne alkyd emulsion, with 10.0 m dry film thickness. In order to verify the individual contribution of each of the components, the binders were loaded with 1.0 wt% of polyaniline and equal amount of cerium oxide nanoparticles separately. Afterwards, the nanoparticles of PANi and cerium oxide were physically added togetherintothebinders,1.0wt%ofeach.Theprotectivepropertiesofthecoatingsystems were studied by Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) in presence of two different

European Conference on Smart & Functional Coatings September 2013, Torino, Italy

electrolytes; 0.3 wt.% of Na2SO4 and 3.0 wt% of NaCl. In addition open circuit potential (OCP) was likely monitored. EIS spectra and OCP values were monitored against the time of exposure. ResultsandDiscussion Preliminary EIS observations showed dissimilar protective properties among the two blank coatings. The initial impedance values at low frequency (Z0.015Hz) observed for the blank solventborne system were in the order of 107 Ohm.cm2. On the other hand, the blank waterborne coating showed lower protection performance. The presence of 1.0 wt% content of cerium oxide nanoparticles inside the solventborne coating raised in about two ordersofmagnitudetheZ0.015Hzaftercertaintimeofexposure.Thatobservationmightbe attributed to the nanoparticles themselves whereas the blank solvent has not shown similarity.Theexperimentsevidencedthattheadditionof polyanilineintothesolventborne coating promotes a shift of the free corrosion potential value from 0.65 V toward more noble values (about 0.35 V). This phenomenon was not observed for the corresponding blankcoating. Conclusions The investigation carried out on the complete system, formulated with PANi and cerium oxide, highlighted that under proper conditions a synergistic effect of the PANi and cerium oxideparticlesisobservable. References [1]DIRECTIVE2006.11.ECOFTHEEUROPEANPARLIAMENTANDOFTHECOUNCIL.2006. [2] DeBerry, D.W., Modification of the Electrochemical and Corrosion Behaviour of Stainless SteelwithandElectroactiveCoatings.ElectrochemicalSociety,1985.132(5):p.5. [3] Hinton B.R.W., D.R. Arnott, and N.E. Ryan, Inhibition of Aluminum Alloy Corrosion by CerousCations.MetalsForum,1985.7:p.7. [4]HintonB.R.W.,D.R.Arnott,andN.E.Ryan,MaterForum,1986.9. [5] Montemor, M.F. and M.G.S. Ferreira, Cerium salt activated nanoparticles as fillers for silane films: Evaluation of the corrosion inhibition performance on galvanised steel substrates.ElectrochimicaActa,2007.52(24):p.69766987.