Sol-gel coating filled with SDS-stabilized fullerene nanoparticles for active corrosion protection of the magnesium alloy

Abstract

Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate (SDS) surfactant was stabilized on the fullerene C60 nanoparticles. The raw, aminated (F-NH 2 ), and SDS-stabilized (F-SDS) fullerene nanoparticles were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS), and Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA). Then, the functionalized nanoparticles were dispersed inside the sol-gel coating for active corrosion protection of AM60B magnesium alloy . Suitable dispersion of the F-SDS nanoparticles inside the sol-gel coating was confirmed by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). After addition of the F-NH 2 and F-SDS nanoparticles, micrometric defects in the sol-gel coating disappeared. A relative increment in the surface roughness of the coating was observed by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) after incorporation of the F-NH 2 and F-SDS nanoparticles. Also, a considerable improvement in the corrosion protection of the sol-gel coating after addition of the F-NH 2 and F-SDS nanoparticles (500 ppm) was shown by Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) in 3.5 wt% NaCl. Based on the SEM and EDS-mapping analyses at the end of the corrosion tests , the corrosion damages of the F-SDS containing sol-gel coating has been considerably reduced. • SDS molecules were successfully stabilized on the fullerene C60 nanoparticles. • SDS grafted nanoparticles (F-SDS) showed suitable dispersion in sol-gel coating. • The F-SDS containing coating was crack-free, uniform, and thermally resistive. • The F-SDS containing sol-gel film showed the best corrosion protection performance.