High-performance anti-corrosive coatings based on rGO-SiO2-TiO2 ternary heterojunction nanocomposites for superior protection for mild steel specimens

Abstract

Corrosion is the impairment of metal which typically generates the oxides of the original metal and results in a destruction of the surface and loss of mechanical properties like strength, ductility, impact strength so it is considered to be a serious issue. To regulate this, we have synthesized an anticorrosive ternary nanocomposite coating. We have prepared (GO/rGO-SiO2-TiO2) binary and ternary nanocomposite coating with incorporation of organic resin (Cashewnut resin). GO was derived from graphite powder by hummers method whereas rGO was obtained by the reduction process of GO. SiO2 and TiO2 were prepared by wet chemical process. The nanoparticles were subjected for its size, structural and morphological characterization. The nanoparticles are mixed with natural resin for building up of nanocomposites coating. The composite mixture was deposited on the mild steel panel and the coated panels were subjected to contact angle analysis, salt spray testing and electrochemical studies to analyse the hydrophobic, roughness, corrosion resistivity etc. The ternary composite coating rGO/SiO2/TiO2 shows high performance of corrosion resistivity, the corrosion rate obtained from anticorrosion study is 0.0187 mm/year after 152 h of immersion in aggressive saline environment, thus the nanocomposites coating exhibits high anticorrosion activity.