N-doped-GO@Zn nano-layers filled epoxy composite with superior mechanical and anti-corrosion properties

Abstract

Fabrication of a durable corrosion-resistant epoxy coating with superior active and passive preservation features along with improved mechanical properties is the major target of this study. For this, the Nitrogen (N)-doped graphene oxide (NGO) nano-sheets were obtained in two conditions (I: plane and II: edge) and then modified with zinc ions as an inhibitor. The chemistry of the NGO-Zn nano-sheets was surveyed by FTIR and TGA methods. It was discovered from the EIS test outcomes that the entrance of 0.2 wt% of NGO-Zn nano-sheets into the epoxy coating supplied a strong protective system with considerably improved barrier properties and the emergence of active features. The hindrance properties of these nano-composite coatings were so excellent that the log |Z|10 mHz value experienced little changes even after 147 days of electrolyte attack. The active protection feature of the EP/NGOU-Zn and EP/NGU-Zn nano-containers in reference to Rt values after 48 h of immersion was concluded, displaying 1.3 and 1.7 times improvement. The Raman and FTIR test outcomes of the cured epoxy composites showed that the incorporation of fillers into the coating has no adverse effect on its curing behavior. Results disclosed that the NGO constructed with method II (NGU) greatly improved the mechanical properties of the polymeric matrix by about 50 %, recording maximum storage modulus (2021 MPa) in the dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) test among all samples.