Abstract
Degradation behaviors of zinc-rich epoxy coatings (ZRCs) were investigated using a simulated tidal apparatus. The steel substrate can be cathodically protected effectively in both immersion and tidal zones. The tidal level has a remarkable influence on the activation rate of zinc pigments in the ZRCs. Both activation degree and consumption of the zinc pigments in the ZRCs decreases with the rise of tidal level. More durable protection offered by zinc pigments can be achieved at the higher tidal level. The encapsulation of corrosion products hinders the sacrifice of zinc pigments, resulting in the high residual of metallic Zn even after the disability of effective cathodic protection of the ZRCs. Moreover, the tidal level affects the phase composition of corrosion products. In addition to the dominant phases including ZnO and Zn5OH8Cl2, Zn5CO32OH6 and Zn4OH6SO4 are formed in outer layers of the ZRCs at the relatively high tidal level.
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