Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, Vol.53, No.26, 10644-10652, 2014
Effect of Curing Conditions on the Protective Performance of an Ecofriendly Hybrid Si lane Sol-Gel Coating with Clay Nanoparticles Applied on Mild Steel
An ecofriendly silane coating incorporating nanoclay was applied on mild steel through the sol gel method. The concentration of nanoclay in which the hybrid coating consisting of glycidyloxypropyltrimethoxysilane, tetraethoxysilane, and methyltriethoxysilane revealed the most effective protection was determined through taking advantage of a combination of electrochemical noise method and surface analysis as well. Confirming the characteristic charge data obtained from shot noise theory, FTIR spectra and FESEM images indicated that the day nanoparticles dispersed in the silane film might improve the barrier properties. The optimum curing characterization of the hybrid coating with nanoclay at the concentration ensuring the most effective protection was then determined using electrochemical measurements and surface analysis. Consistent with results of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, electrochemical noise data revealed the significant impact of curing time and temperature on the protective function of the silane layer. Moreover, water contact angles showed the film structure is affected by the curing conditions.