Influence of multifunctional graphene oxide and silanized vanadium nitride in polyurethane coatings for the protection of aluminium alloy in aerospace industries

Abstract

Polyurethane (PU) coatings were modified by the addition of vanadium nitride (VN), N-(n-butyl)-3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (BAMS), and graphene oxide (GO) to increase their anticorrosion and mechanical characteristics. The SEM/EDX, TEM, TGA, XPS, and XRD techniques were employed to examine the structural and morphological behaviours of the films for pure VN, BAMS/VN, GO/VN, and GO/BAMS-VN. Electrochemical methods and mechanical tests supported the anticorrosive and adhesive capabilities of the PU-GO/BAMS-VN nanocomposite. Impedance studies confirm that the corrosion protection performance of PU-GO/BAMS-VN was measured to be much greater (3.623E11 Ω.cm2) than plain polymer (1.51E5 Ω.cm2) in 3.5 % NaCl solution. Studies using SECM demonstrated that the metal ions that dissolve in the PU-GO/BAMS-VN nanocomposite are under control. The homogeneous dispersion of VN nanofillers was revealed by SEM studies. Using SEM/EDX and XRD techniques, modification in material morphology, phase structure, and compositions were examined. Strong bonding between GO/BAMS-VN and polyurethane produced a compact film with improved mechanical properties. By having a WCA of 157°, it exhibits extreme hydrophobic characteristics. The PU-GO/BAMS-VN film displayed the enhanced adhesive strength (27.2 MPa). The PU-GO/BAMS-VN could therefore be exploited as a potential material for coatings for use in aerospace industries.