Corrosion Protection Research Articles

Superhydrophobic carbon fiber composite coatings based on TC4 titanium alloy for improving corrosion resistance

Seawater corrosion poses significant challenges to marine industrial equipment, leading to a reduced lifespan and potential safety hazards. To enhance the corrosion resistance and reliability of titanium alloys in marine environments, a superhydrophobic TiO₂ nanotube-carbon fiber composite coating (SCF-TAD20) was developed through anodic oxidation, spraying, and chemical modification. SCF-TAD20 achieves a contact angle of 153°, which facilitates excellent corrosion protection due to its unique micro-nano structure, gas barrier properties, and chemical resistance. Electrochemical tests demonstrate that SCF-TAD20 increases the corrosion potential from -0.482 V to 0.0612 V and reduces the corrosion current density from 377.8 × 10-8 A/cm2 to 0.615 × 10-8 A/cm2, a four-order decrease. Its charge transfer resistance (∼8.81E6 Ω·cm2) is significantly higher than that of the substrate (∼3.03E5 Ω·cm2). The coating also performs well in seawater with varying pH levels, showing the lowest corrosion current density and a significant increase in resistive arc radius. This research presents a novel approach to enhancing TC4 titanium alloys for marine applications.

Numerical Investigation on Cathodic Protection of X80 Pipeline Steel in Marine Environment

Abstract Submarine pipelines are usually buried in sea mud, but part of the pipes will be exposed to seawater directly because of the change of seabed, the differences between sea mud and seawater result in different corrosion states. Generally, due to its large geometric size, complex medium, difficult to detect and other reasons, corrosion defects will cause greater harm to pipeline materials. A numerical analysis model of the outer surface corrosion of submarine pipelines was developed to simulate status of cathodic protection, furthermore, potential distribution and local density of current inside the defects was also analyzed and evaluated. The results indicates that: (1)The CP potential distributes more evenly in sea mud when the same sacrificial anode is used, and the cathodic protection current density needed to meet the anti-corrosion requirements is much larger in seawater than in sea mud.(2)Compared with sea mud, the polarization potential of the sacrificial anode in seawater is more negative, and the CP potential at the edge of anodes is the most positive in both sea mud and seawater. Furthermore, in seawater, the dissolution rate of sacrificial anodes closer to the seabed is lower, and anodes dissolve much faster at the inner surface, while it is just the opposite in sea mud.(3)Cathodic protection cannot ensure complete and effective protection at defect points. At defect bottom, the cathodic protection current is partially shielded, reducing the effectiveness of CP system on corrosion protection of pipelines. Moreover, the shielding effect of defect point on cathodic protection current has a great deal with the geometric shape of defect points, with decreasing width and increasing depth, the shielding phenomenon becomes more obvious.(4) Numerical simulation technique based on the finite element model provides a new method to solve this problem and plays a positive role in assessing anti-corrosion status and the service life of anodes.

Eco-friendly Chlorella vulgaris extracts for corrosion protection of steel in acidic environments

This study evaluates the potential of Chlorella vulgaris sp. extracts as eco-friendly corrosion inhibitors for API 5L 42 Steel in a 1M HCl acidic environment, offering sustainable alternatives for industrial applications. Two corrosion inhibitors were obtained through solvent extraction methods: M1 (methanol) and M2 (methanol/chloroform). The extracts were characterized using infrared spectroscopy, the analysis revealed hydroxyl, methyl and vinyl groups as the most representative. The effect of corrosion inhibition was study by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and potentiodynamic polarization. The results show significant reductions in corrosion current density and increases in charge transfer resistance, with M2 achieving the highest protection efficiency of 91.20 % and a charge transfer resistance of 501.80 Ω at a 120 ppm concentration, while M1 reached 88.22 % efficiency with a charge transfer resistance of 102.30 Ω. Uv–Vis measurements were performed to determine the electronic transitions of the metal-inhibitor system for each of the extracts. ANOVA highlighted the significant influence of biomass concentration on corrosion resistance. The adsorption of M1 and M2 extracts on the carbon steel surface obeyed the Langmuir isotherm and Gibbs free energy calculations indicated a physisorption mechanism for both extracts. Surface morphology analysis by Scanning electron microscope (SEM) revealed less pitting and reduced surface roughness as inhibitor concentration increased. These findings underscore the potential of Chlorella vulgaris extracts, particularly M2 at 120 ppm, as effective and sustainable corrosion inhibitors for steel in acidic environments.

Sustainable furfural bis-thymol based benzoxazines: Superhydrophobic, aggregation induced emission and corrosion resistant properties

Sustainable bis-thymol based benzoxazines have been synthesized using furfural bis-thymol (FBT) and paraformaldehyde separately with five different fluorine substituted amines through Mannich condensation process. The molecular structure of the obtained benzoxazines has been verified using spectroscopic analyses. The curing temperature of the synthesized benzoxazines are ranged between 241°C and 277°C. Among the synthesized polybenzoxazines, poly(FBT-pfa) exhibits the highest thermal stability of 52% char yield. All the polybenzoxazines exhibit the value of LOI above the threshold limit of 26 which infers the self-extinguishing property of the polymer. Poly(FBT-pfsa) showed the highest value of water contact angle of 151o, which ascertains that the increased fluorine content contributes to the superhydrophobic nature. Results from hydrophobic durability studies with poly(FBT-pfsa) using coated cotton fabric under acidic and basic conditions indicate its suitability for hydrophobic applications. The corrosion protection ability of polybenzoxazines towards mild steel surfaces was studied and the results obtained suggest that these polybenzoxazines can be used as an excellent coating material. UV-Visible and fluorescence spectroscopic analyses infer that these benzoxazines exhibit aggregation induced emission (AIE) characteristics. Data from different studies suggest that these materials can be conveniently utilized in the form of optical, superhydrophobic and corrosion-resistant coatings.

Numerical simulation of the impact of casing on the buried metal pipeline cathodic protection potential

Abstract Metal casings shield the cathodic protection current and detection signals of buried metal pipelines, making the corrosion protection and detection technology of pipelines at the casing one of the challenges for safe operation and integrity evaluation of pipelines. This paper uses the primary current distribution physics interface in the COMSOL Multiphysic simulation software to study the effects of the coating quality of the casing and pipeline, the installation of sacrificial anodes in the casing, the conductivity of the electrolyte, and defects in the pipeline coating in the casing on the pipeline potential. The influence of distribution. The results show that: The coating quality of the outer surface of the casing and the pipe inside the casing has a great influence on the cathodic protection potential of the pipeline. The better the coating quality, the more negative the cathodic protection potential is, and the less cathodic protection current required by the pipeline, so the power consumption of the forced current law is reduced, and the service life of the sacrificial anode is longer. Installing sacrificial anodes in the casing has a positive effect on the cathodic protection of this special pipe section. The conductivity of the electrolyte in the casing has a certain impact on the cathodic protection potential of the pipeline. When the conductivity of the internal electrolyte is greater, the protective potential of the pipeline becomes more negative. However, impurities such as soil, groundwater, and silt make the pipeline more susceptible to corrosion, so keeping the annular space relatively dry is an important prerequisite for anti-corrosion. When there is a coating defect on the inner and outer pipes of the casing, the potential at the damaged point will have a potential peak. The larger the potential peak difference, the more serious the coating defect is.

Electrochemical exfoliation of graphene nanosheets and development of a novel efficient Ni-CeO2-Gr ternary nanocomposite coatings for dual functional anti-corrosion and wear-resistance

Nickel-based coatings offer excellent corrosion, wear resistance, and mechanical strength, and can be further improved with additives, making them ideal for harsh environments like marine and chemical industries. In the present study, graphene (Gr) nanosheets were synthesized via electrochemical exfoliation and a novel Ni-CeO2-Gr nanocomposite coating was prepared by an electrochemical co-electrodeposition technique on a Cu substrate in a traditional Watts bath. The coatings (pure Ni, Ni-Gr, Ni-CeO2 and the ternary Ni-CeO2-Gr) were characterized using optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with energy-dispersive spectrometry (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, Vickers microhardness and micro-scratch tests. The electrochemical properties of the coatings were evaluated by electrochemical impedance (EIS) and DC-polarization measurements in 0.5 M NaCl. SEM-EDS, Raman, and XRD analysis confirmed the successful synthesis of high-quality graphene and the incorporation of CeO2 nanoparticles and graphene nanosheets into the nickel coating matrix. It was found that the ternary Ni-CeO2-Gr coating exhibited a high microhardness (915.6 HV), improved cohesive strength and enhanced corrosion resistance (544 KΩ.cm−2) compared to pure Ni coatings (30 KΩ.cm−2) due to the synergistic effect of the graphene and CeO2 duplex layer within the Ni matrix, forming a robust anticorrosion barrier. These findings offer valuable insights into the designing highly efficient materials for corrosion protection.

A simple strategy to significantly improve the anticorrosion and aging resistance of epoxy coatings by adding polyaniline modified multi-walled carbon nanotubes

Epoxy coatings are widely used for corrosion protection of metals, but under extremely harsh environments, the epoxy polymer chains such as the C-O bonds of epoxy ether and aromatic ether, and the -OH in the epoxy chain structure can also undergo aging and degradation, leading to the failure of the coating in service. How to extend the anti-aging capability of epoxy resins while maintaining their other properties unchanged has become a major challenge in the practical application of epoxy coatings. In this study, the polyaniline (PANI) modified multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT@PANI) were synthesized by polymerization in-situ and added to epoxy resin as an anti-aging filler. The various measurements have been adopted to characterize the composition and structure of MWCNT@PANI, and the anticorrosive performance of the composite coating for carbon steel were evaluated via salt spray, chemical aging and UV light aging. Results showed that the impedance value of the blank epoxy coating decreases by at least two orders of magnitude after the salt spray tests, and the contact angle decreases by about 30° and gradually changes from hydrophobic to hydrophilic, indicating a significant decline in corrosion resistance. In contrast, the composite coating confirmed the excellent anti-aging performance, while the impedance values increased by approximately 2-5 orders of magnitude compared to that in blank epoxy coatings, and remained around 1010 Ω·cm2. Given the dense encapsulation of MWCNT@PANI, the dispersion stability between the filler and EP can be improved, and the effective corrosion resistance performance was also supported by molecular dynamic simulation. Besides that, the ability of free radical quenching along with the labyrinth effect and hydrophobic interaction have also been investigated to explain the anticorrosion and anti-aging mechanism.

Fluorinated B-72 hybrid silver doped modified nanoparticle as a coating for biological corrosion protection of ancient bricks

In this paper, a superhydrophobic organic-inorganic composite coating containing fluorinated B72 hybrid methyl-modified silica/(Ag doped TiO2) by hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) (H-SiO2/Ag/TiO2) was prepared by means of a mild and an environmental friendly method. Transparency, adhesion, hardness tests and photocatalytic performance were measured to determine the content of Ag in TiO2 which the TiO2/AgNO3 ratio is 0.008 g/mL. The synthesized Ag/TiO2 nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectra and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The highest contact angle of coated ancient bricks was 148.66° and the color change value of ΔE⁎ before and after coating was <5 which is within an acceptable range. The physical properties such as apparent porosity and water vapor permeability (ΔMp) were studied. After weathering from acid, alkali, salt, water and ultraviolet radiation, the bricks coated by the composite coatings still have good hydrophobicity that the contact angle were >120° and minor degree of surface corrosion comparing with the ancient bricks. The inhibitory effect of the composite coating on Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli), and that on algae (Chlamydomonas and Dunaliella) were studied through bacteriostasis test and algae comparative experiments, respectively. Finally, the mechanism of the composite coating on antibacterial and anti-algae was studied. The results showed that the appearance of the ancient bricks was not changed after coating, and the anti-weathering, antibacterial and anti-algae properties of the ancient transformation were increased.

How does the integration of amino acids enhance the bonding ability of triazine-based inhibitors with iron surfaces: Insights from SCC-DFTB, COSMO-RS and molecular dynamics simulations

Theoretical investigations into the adsorption of molecules on metal surfaces play a pivotal role in the development of more efficient corrosion inhibitors. This study offers a novel approach by combining Density Functional Tight Binding (DFTB), Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations, and conductor-like screening model for realistic solvation (COSMO-RS) calculations to comprehensively assess the interaction and diffusion properties of glycine (Gly), 2,2′-azanediyldiacetic acid (IDA), and 5-aminopentanoic acid (5-APA) with two 1,3,5-triazine (Tris) derivatives (Tris-Gly and Tris-IDA) for corrosion protection of carbon steel in acidic medium. The solvation properties of these molecules were evaluated alongside their interaction strength with the Fe(1 1 0) surface, considering both neutral and protonated forms. DFTB simulations revealed a clear trend in interaction energies, following the order: Tris-IDA > Tris-Gly > 5-APA > IDA > Gly. It ranges from −1.191 eV to −1.853 eV, with the highest stability observed for protonated Tris-IDA (−1.853 eV), while neutral Glycine exhibits the lowest interaction energy (−1.263 eV). While these theoretical results diverged slightly from experimental observations, with Tris-Gly outperforming Tris-IDA, this discrepancy was attributed to steric effects and solvent interactions. The DFTB results also indicated strong covalent interactions, particularly involving acetic groups, between the inhibitors’ orbitals and the iron’s 3d orbitals. MD simulations further demonstrated the impact of protonation on inhibitor mobility, with reduced diffusion coefficients due to enhanced electrostatic interactions and hydrogen bonding. COSMO-RS solvation analysis confirmed the strong hydrogen bonding capabilities of these molecules with water. Overall, this study elucidates the mechanisms of corrosion inhibition by integrating multiple simulation techniques, providing key molecular insights that can guide the design of more effective corrosion inhibitors. The findings emphasize the significance of electronic interactions and molecular structure in enhancing inhibitor performance, making this a valuable contribution to corrosion science.

Evaluation of wear and corrosion resistance in acidic and chloride solutions of Cathodic Arc PVD chromium nitride coatings on untreated and plasma nitrided AISI 4140 steel

Chromium nitride ceramic like coatings are well known for their hardness and wear resistance, especially under severe conditions. When deposited on mild steel, nitriding is required for such applications to create a gradient hardness profile and improve the coating adhesion and the system's mechanical properties. Corrosion resistance is also necessary since these chromium coatings are recommended for applications in the plastic mould and injection industry. Therefore, in this work, the combination of a nitriding without white layer pretreatment and CrN coating was studied in a chloride and an acidic electrolyte, to asses if the diffusion layer also plays an important role as a corrosion protection treatment. Coating microstructure, adhesion to both nitrided and non-nitrided steel, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance in chloride and acidic media were evaluated. For comparison, bare and nitrided steel were also examined. Results indicated an improvement in the adhesion for the duplex treatment (nitriding + CrN). The CrN coating demonstrated a considerably lower coefficient of friction and wear rate compared to both non-nitrided and nitrided steel. Regarding corrosion, the iron nitride layer provides some protection in chloride environments; however, in acidic media, only the CrN coating plays a protective role. In both media, localized attack occurred at sites where the coating had defects, such as pores or pinholes through which the electrolyte comes into contact with the substrate. The duplex treatment proved to be the most effective surface treatment for AISI 4140, achieving excellent tribological properties, good adhesion, and high corrosion resistance in both neutral chloride and acidic solutions.

Study on corrosion mechanism of laser-clad Ni-WxC coating by in-situ electrochemical method under high temperature and pressure environment

Corrosion protection of oil and gas equipment by laser cladding technology has emerged as a crucial method to reduce costs and increase efficiency. The in-situ electrochemical method was employed to investigate the microstructure evolution and corrosion mechanisms of laser-clad Ni1725-WxC coatings under high temperature and pressure environment. The coating is composed of cellular γ-Ni (W, Cr, Fe), block W2C, WC/W2C eutectic structure with a shell of WC, and small amount of CrxCy (Cr7C3/Cr23C6) in Ni1725 matrix. The corrosion resistance of the coating is worsened with increasing temperature under in-situ electrochemical method owing to reduced reaction activation energy and increased transfer rate. Furthermore, the surface potentials of the coating follow the order: E1 (WC shell) > E2 (Ni1725 matrix (oxide)) > E3 (WC/W2C eutectic phase) > E4 (block W2C). Therefore, galvanic corrosion occurs between WC shell and Ni1725 matrix. W2C with lower potential corrodes preferentially as well at WC/W2C eutectic structure in WxC particle, which expands with increasing temperature to form a loose internal structure.

Graphene/polyaniline waterborne composite coatings for metallic bipolar plates

Waterborne composite coatings were formulated for protection of metallic bipolar plates. The challenges lied in two aspects, one was the confliction between high electrical conductivity and good corrosion protection properties; the other was the water dispersibility of the constituent phases. Water-solubility of polyaniline (PANI) were controlled by adding polystyrene sulfonic acid during the polymerization of aniline. Graphene was functionalized by p-aminobenzoic acid and p-phenylenediamine to enhance the compatibility with PANI, while keeping the electrical conductivity of graphene at around 169 S/cm. Upon in-situ polymerization of the functionalized graphene/PANI composites, the electrical conductivity varied significantly from 41 S/cm to 91 S/cm with the surface functionality of graphene. The composite coatings were prepared thereafter with functionalized graphene/PANI/carbon black on the surface of 316 L stainless steel by centrifugal spraying coating. The interfacial contact resistance of the coatings reached 4 mΩ·cm2, comparable to Au coatings, but the corrosion current density was 4.37 μA/cm2 due to the existence of the hydrophilic groups in waterborne coatings, like amino groups and sulfonic acid groups. A post-treatment was carried out to consume some of the amino groups, so that the corrosion current density was decreased to 0.88 μA/cm2.

Polyaniline nanoparticles intercalated Ti3C2 MXene reinforced waterborne epoxy nanocomposites for electromagnetic wave absorption and anticorrosion coating applications

Ti3C2 MXene (TM) has great application potential in the field of wave absorption and corrosion resistance due to its unique performance, such as high specific surface area, high electrical conductivity, excellent mechanical and good chemical stability. However, it is difficult to obtain uniformly dispersed TM in the resin matrix due to rapid agglomeration behavior. It is difficult to obtain uniformly dispersed Ti3C2 MXene (TM) in the resin matrix due to rapid agglomeration behavior. Heren, a novel method is presented to improve the corrosion protection and dispersion of TM by polymerizing polyaniline (PANI) nanoparticles between layers. The waterborne epoxy (WEP) coating with PANI-TM had high mechanical properties including impact resistance, adhesion, and flexibility and wear resistance. The PANI-TM-WEP composites can effectively absorb more than 90 % of the electromagnetic waves and demonstrate a decreased glass transition temperature of WEP from 128.0 to 107.6 ℃. Moreover, the |Z|0.01Hz value of the PANI-TM0.5 % was 1.2369 × 106 Ω·cm2, which was one order of magnitude larger than WEP coating. The high-performance anticorrosion of PANI intercalated TM coating is attributed to the synergistic effect of impermeable TM nanosheets and passivation effect of PANI. Therefore, PANI-TM is a potential choice for applications in the fields of anticorrosion and microwave absorption.

Steel Structures to Withstand the Elements: What Structural Engineers Need to Know about Corrosion

While regimented design processes for load-induced effects in structures are ubiquitous, similar design processes for considering corrosion resistance are lacking. This is a critical gap in the structural engineering profession as material degradation is the most common cause of diminishing structural condition for bridges and other infrastructure exposed to the elements. This results in both safety and financial consequences. This paper addresses this gap by reviewing basic principles governing corrosion, how these corrosion principles translate to real-world environments, commonly available corrosion protection systems, long-term field data assessing corrosion in varied quantified environments and associated conclusions, and practical design and maintenance strategies for improving corrosion resistance. These concepts are connected through a proposed framework for considering corrosion as a limit state that can be applied to all structures. Detailed consideration of uncoated weathering steel (UWS) bridges is provided as a pilot material and structure type for considering corrosion as a limit state. Thoughtful application of these concepts can be used to optimize corrosion resistance, improving life-cycle costs and service lives of civil engineering structures.

Microwave-assisted synthesis of carbon nanodots from Bombax ceiba leaves for enhanced Tribo-corrosion resistance: An experimental and computational analysis

This study presents a novel method for synthesizing carbon nanodots (BC-CNDs) from Bombax ceiba leaf extract via microwave assistance, yielding cost-effective, biodegradable, and water-soluble nanomaterials. Spectroscopic analysis, including FT-IR, UV–Vis, and fluorescence emission spectrophotometry, revealed the distinctive characteristics of BC-CNDs. Additionally, an anti-corrosive coating (BC-CNDs-C) was formulated by blending BC-CNDs with a plasticizer and binder. Quantitative evaluation of BC-CNDs-C showed an impressive inhibitory rate of 92.55% against corrosion. Electrochemical measurements indicated a notable increase in polarization resistance (Rp values: 1782.2 Ω cm2 for P1 to 4778.3 Ω cm2 for P4) and a decrease in corrosion current density (Icorr values: 0.065 μA/cm2 for P1 to 0.010 μA/cm2 for P4) with the incorporation of BC-CNDs, highlighting their effectiveness in enhancing corrosion resistance. Additionally, structural analyses via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) confirmed the reliability of BC-CNDs-C as a corrosion barrier. This research contributes to the development of sustainable materials for corrosion protection, addressing corrosion-related challenges in various industrial applications.

Enhanced wear resistance, corrosion behavior, and thermal management in magnesium alloys with PEO coatings

The harsh conditions encountered in aerospace applications, such as high operational temperatures, abrasive wear, and corrosive substances, present significant challenges to the performance and longevity of magnesium alloy components. To create a coating with superior wear resistance, corrosion resistance, and high emissivity, this study employs plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) technology to develop a nanocomposite coating doped with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN). The results demonstrate that the MgO-BN/CNTs coating with an emissivity of 0.82 reduces the equilibrium temperature of the 5 W LED junction by nearly 10 °C compared to the magnesium alloy substrate, showing improved radiative heat dissipation performance. Due to the ability of the porous structure to accommodate abrasive particles, coupled with the lubricating effect of h-BN and CNTs, the friction coefficient of the MgO-BN/CNTs coating is 0.57, which is 21 % lower than that of the MgO coating. Additionally, the coating exhibits excellent corrosion protection, attributed to the dense microstructure and chemical inertness of h-BN. The findings demonstrate that the strategic incorporation of h-BN and CNTs into PEO coatings effectively improves the wear resistance, corrosion resistance, and thermal management performance of magnesium alloys.

Study of a fluorine-free silane-based film on an aluminum alloy via drop-coating method with the purpose of providing hydrophobic and corrosion protection properties

Study of a fluorine-free silane-based film on an aluminum alloy via drop-coating method with the purpose of providing hydrophobic and corrosion protection properties

Liquid-phase shear exfoliation of graphite and its application as corrosion protection coating on aluminum substrate

Although aluminum (Al) or its alloys are moderately protected by a native oxide layer, the presence of chloride ions in aqueous media in direct contact causes pitting attacks and accelerates corrosion. Using graphene as a coating protector can obstruct corrosion due to its numerous chemical and physical properties. This study investigates corrosion protection of Al using graphene nanosheets (GNSs) produced by liquid phase shear exfoliation method (LPE). To do so, few layer-thick graphene nanosheet colloidal solutions were produced by a scalable eco-friendlier lower cost approach. The GNSs were thoroughly characterized using complementary characterization techniques to determine its quality. Spectroscopic and microscopic analyses indicate the synthesis of few-layers graphene (≤ 5 layers) with a high quality. Once approved, the colloidal solution of GNSs was spread over Al substrate by spray coating method, widely used in industrial manufacturing. Raman and near infrared spectroscopies, X-ray diffraction, microscopy techniques including scanning electron, transmission electron and atomic force microscopies were used to investigate morphological and structural behavior of coated GNSs films either on glass or Al substrates. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations revealed the interaction between the two materials is of the physisorption type, with almost no charge transfer and almost no effect of the number of graphene layers. Electrochemical measurements enabled to investigate the corrosion resistance of GNSs films and its stability over time in a 0.5 M sodium chloride (NaCl) solution, similar to marine surroundings. It was found that introducing a GNSs film can indeed reduce the corrosion rate and preserve Al substrate for an extended period.

AUTOMATED LEAK AND WATER QUALITY DETECTION SYSTEM FOR PIPED WATER SUPPLY

The volume of water loss because of leakage in the conveyance pipe has been alarming. Old and poorly constructed pipelines, inadequate corrosion protection, poorly maintained valves, and mechanical damage contribute to leakage. Water-carrying pipes were buried underground, so tracing leak points manually could be tasking, if not impossible. This work was to report on the effectiveness of a developed Automated Leak and Water Quality Detection (ALWQD) system. This device can detect leaks in the piped water system automatically and can also report any deterioration in the quality of water that flows through affected pipes. The ALWQD consisted of several drainpipe connections, pipe accessories, electronic components, and sensors to monitor water quality impairment. The control signal was the solenoid valves that interfaced with the ESP-32 microcontroller boards placed on the pipe manifold at intervals, along with water quality monitoring sensors of turbidity, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), and pH. The fabrication and testing of the device followed standard procedures. Testing of ALWQD was done at 0, 5, and 10 minutes under load and no-load conditions, with average variation in reading recorded after three trials. The findings indicated that the efficiency of ALWQD was between 70% and 80%, which could be improved upon. The trend in the results of the monitored parameters was not different from that of similar previous work. Leaks caused pressure drops and disallowed the full flow of water found at pipe joints, which could be a pathway for the intrusion of contaminants into the water conveyance system.

Catechol/m-Phenylenediamine Modified Sol-Gel Coating with Enhanced Long-Lasting Anticorrosion Performance on 3003 Al Alloy.

Aluminum alloys, characterized by their low density and high mechanical strength, are widely applied in the manufacturing sector. However, the application of aluminum alloys in extreme environments presents severe corrosion challenges. Sol-gel organic coating techniques have garnered significant attention due to their excellent stability, barrier properties, and cost-effectiveness, as well as their simpler processing. Nevertheless, conventional sol-gel coatings are unable to withstand the corrosive effects of high-chloride and high-halide ion environments such as marine conditions, owing to their inherent structural defects. Therefore, this study proposes the utilization of a simple method to synthesize catechol (CA) and meta-phenylenediamine (MPD)-derived catecholamine compounds to modify sol-gel coatings. Surface characteristics of the modified coatings were analyzed using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The thickness of the modified coating was approximately 6.8 μm. The CA/MPD-modified substance effectively densifies the sol-gel coating, enhancing its corrosion protection performance. A 3.5 wt% NaCl solution was used to simulate a marine environment, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was conducted using an electrochemical workstation to evaluate the coating's protective properties over a long-term period. The results indicate that the modified coating provides protection for 3003 aluminum alloy for a minimum of 30 days under corrosive conditions, outperforming unmodified sol-gel coatings in terms of corrosion resistance.