The Effect of Zirconia Nanoparticles on Thermal, Mechanical, and Corrosion Behavior of Nanocomposite Epoxy Coatings on Steel Substrates
Mohammad Asif Alam, Ubair Abdus Samad, Arfat Anis, El‐Sayed M. Sherif, Hany S. Abdo, Saeed M. Al‐Zahrani
Abstract
Zirconia (ZrO2) nanoparticles (1–3 wt.%) were incorporated into the epoxy matrix using the ultra-sonication mixing method of dispersion to manufacture nanocomposite coatings. An automatic applicator was used to prepare the coating samples on a stainless steel substrate. The influence of ZrO2 nanoparticles on the physicochemical characteristics of epoxy coatings was evaluated using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermos-gravimetric analysis (TGA), elastic modulus, and micro-hardness measurement with the nano-indentation technique. The corrosion stability during immersion in 3.5% NaCl solution was monitored using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). All ZrO2-containing coatings showed better corrosion stability and adhesion than pure epoxy coating. Epoxy coating incorporated with 2% ZrO2 exhibited the greatest values of corrosion resistance and adhesion due to the effect of nanoparticle properties and their better de-agglomeration in the epoxy matrix than pure epoxy coating.