Uso de poliestireno expandido reciclado para la obtención de un recubrimiento anticorrosivo

Abstract

Introduction. The use of organic solvents as raw material for diverse coatings applied in the prevention and control of corrosion in several industries and the high quantities of expanded polystyrene to be disposed after being used have generated a great controversy worldwide, as they have harmful effects on human health and on the environment. Objective. This study proposes the use of recycled expanded polystyrene, with limonene as a solvent, for its use as anti-corrosive. Materials and methods. Different formulas were developed, after being obtained corresponding to different quantities of recycled expanded polystyrene, limonene, titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, using a constant quantity of cobalt octoate as an additive. After preparing each formulation the anti-corrosive potential of the coating on carbon iron metal plates was assessed, by means of a salt spray chamber test. Result. By comparing the coating obtained with a commercial coating, in terms of efficiency and capacity to prevent and control corrosion, the conclusion is that the coating developed in this project only had a 10 % of its surface corroded, while the coating painted with the commercial coating had 50 % of its surface corroded. Conclusion. Good results in the anti-corrosion properties of the different coating formulations were obtained, thus making possible their use as anti-corrosive coating.