Pretreatment with a β-Cyclodextrin-Corrosion Inhibitor Complex Stops an Initiated Corrosion Process on Zinc

Metal pretreatment is typically the first step in a reliable corrosion protection system. This work explores the incorporation of complexes between the cyclic oligosaccharide β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) and the molecular organic corrosion inhibitor 2-mercaptobenzothiazole (MBT) into an oxide-based pretreatment layer on metallic zinc. The layers were produced by a precorrosion step in the presence of β-CD. The resulting films have a morphology dominated by spherical particles. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy investigations of the surfaces show the sulfur atoms of MBT to be partially oxidized but mostly intact. Samples pretreated with such a layer were subsequently coated with a model polymer coating, and the delamination of this model coating from an artificial defect was monitored by a scanning Kelvin probe (SKP). The SKP results show a slow down of delamination after several hours of the ongoing corrosion process for surfaces pretreated with the complexes. Finally, an increase in the electrode potential in the defect was observed, with a subsequent complete stop in delamination and repassivation of the defect after ≈10 h. This repassivation is attributed to the release of MBT after the initiation of the corrosion process. Most likely, the increase of pH, combined with the availability of aqueous solution, facilitates the MBT release after the initiation of a corrosion process. Consequently, complexes formed from β-CD and corrosion inhibitors can be effectively incorporated into inorganic pretreatments, and the inhibitor component can be released upon start of the corrosion process.