Corrosion Resistant Coatings Based on Zinc Nanoparticles, Epoxy and Silicone Resins

In this study, corrosion-resistant composite coatings were produced by incorporating zinc (Zn) nanoparticles in an epoxy resin and a hybrid silicone resin. While performing sodium chloride saltspray tests, the corrosion performance of the nano-composite coatings was evaluated by applying these corrosion-resistant composite coatings on a carbon steel substrate. The nano-composite coatings on the substrates were characterized by an adhesion test, scanning electron microscope (SEM), and transmission electron microscope (TEM) with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The results of the salt-spray tests showed that the Zn nanoparticles in the epoxy and hybrid silicone resins could react with permeated oxygen, thereby improving the anticorrosion properties of the Zn nano-composites. The corroded area of the epoxy resin samples decreased from more than 80% without Zn doping to less than 5% in a 3000-ppm Zn-doped sample after a 500-h saltspray test. An evaluation of the bactericidal properties showed that the Zn/epoxy and Zn/hybrid silicone resin nano-composites with at least 360 ppm of Zn nanoparticles exhibited bactericidal ability, which remarkably increased with the Zn nanoparticles content. The corrosion-resistant properties improved with the addition of Zn nano-composites coatings.