Analysis of Polymer-Base Nanocomposite Coating of Polyurethane/Zinc/Clay with Investigation of Structure, Surface Morphology and Electrochemical Properties

In this study, polyurethane/zinc/clay nanocomposite containing nanomaterials percentenges 10wt% nanozinc and 0.5wt%, 1wt%, 1.5wt%, 2wt% nanoclay were analyzed. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, conductance and salt fog tests with structural measurements including Transmission Electron Microscopy, X-ray spectrometry and Atomic Force Microscopy were performed on the samples. The results of the microstructure measurements showed the appropriate dispersion of nanomaterials in the coatings. Also the size and type of nanomaterials and surface topology was determined using microscopic analysis. Electrochemical tests results showed that the addition of nanoclay improves corrosion resistance of the coatings and the best corrosion performance obtained for nonocomposite containing 2wt% nanoclay that this improvement may be due to increasing the barrier properties with nanoclay. The other hand, conductance of the coating decrease with nanoclay and decline of this decreasing path occurred after 2wt% nanoclay. Therefore the attainment of optimal corrosion resistant Nanocomposite coatings may be due to interface effect of two parameters: barrier effect and conductance effect.