Abstract
This paper reports the use of the electrospinning technique for the synthesis of nanocomposite micro/nanofibers by combining a polymeric precursor with hydrophobic behavior like polyvinyl chloride (PVC) with nanoparticles of a corrosion inhibitor like ZnO. These electrospun fibers were deposited on substrates of the aluminum alloy 6061T6 until forming a coating around 100 μm. The effect of varying the different electrospinning deposition parameters (mostly applied voltage and flow-rate) was exhaustively analyzed in order to optimize the coating properties. Several microscopy and analysis techniques have been employed, including optical microscopy (OM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Water contact angle (WCA) measurements have been carried out in order to corroborate the coating hydrophobicity. Finally, their corrosion behavior has been evaluated by electrochemical tests (Tafel curves and pitting potential measurements), showing a relevant improvement in the resultant corrosion resistance of the coated aluminum alloys.
Highlights
Aluminum alloys are widely used in many industrial areas such as automotive, aerospace, and construction, due to their physical and mechanical properties: Low density, good mechanical properties at low temperatures, good corrosion resistance, and excellent thermal and electrical conductivities [1].While aluminum is a very reactive metal with a high affinity for oxygen, the metal shows a high corrosion resistance in most environments
The first step was the optimization of the electrospinning parameters, mainly applied voltage (E) and flow rate
It has been demonstrated that electrospun nanocomposite coatings of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) improve the corrosion resistance of the aluminum alloy 6061T6 due to the high hydrophobic character of the resulting surfaces, which may be explained by the roughness and fibrous topography of these coatings, which seems to produce a water-coating contact corresponding to the Cassie-Baxter state
Summary
While aluminum is a very reactive metal with a high affinity for oxygen, the metal shows a high corrosion resistance in most environments. This is due to the thin layer of aluminum oxide (Al2 O3 ). That is formed on the surface of the metal This passive layer, of around 5 to 10 nanometers thick, shows an inert and protective character and acts as a barrier between the metal and the surrounding medium. In order to extend the range of applications of these alloys, it is necessary to extend their corrosion resistance by means of surface treatments or coatings with the aim to reduce the economic impact of corrosion [3]
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