Polymer Based Nanocomposite Coatings for Anticorrosion Applications
The successful use of polymeric coatings for corrosion prevention or mitigation is often hindered by their inherently porous microstructure that fails to resist the ingress of detrimental species and/or by their vulnerability to damage by surface abrasion, wear, or scratches. Incorporation of nanomaterials in polymeric coatings can greatly improve their barrier performance. While the last decade has seen a substantial amount of research on polymeric nanocomposite coatings, the knowledge underlying the critical roles nanomaterials play remains scattered. This chapter discusses the utilization of nanotechnology to greatly enhance the properties of polymer based coatings for anticorrosion applications, by modifying the microstructure of the coating bulk or endowing it with additional functionality. It starts with a brief discussion of the relevant knowledge base, including: microstructure of polymer nanocomposites, influence of nanomodification on properties of polymeric coatings, fabrication approaches, and the use of polymeric nanocoating as a carrier for corrosion inhibitors. It also provides a review of technological advances in the use of nanotechnology to produce high performance polymeric coatings with outstanding corrosion resistance and other relevant properties. The chapter concludes with a snapshot review of the advanced characterization of nanocomposite coatings for corrosion protection.