PANi/ZrO2-composite coating for corrosion protection in 3.5 M NaCl solution

Abstract

This study was designed to investigate PANi/ZrO2, as an anti-corrosion coating material. An extraction of Zirconia (ZrO2,) from natural zircon sand of Kereng Pangi has been conducted by means hydrothermal process and alkali fusion. In this composite system consist of Polyaniline (PANi) as a matrix and ZrO2, as a filler material for an anti-corrosion coating. PANi/ZrO2, composites were synthesized by an in-situ polymerization method. The structure of synthesized ZrO2, was characterized using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD). The samples for corrosion testing were original steel (SS), paint coated steel (PS), paint/ZrO2, coated steel (ZS), paint/PANi/ZrO2, coated steel (PZ) with dimensions of 2 cm x 2 cm. Corrosion rate was tested in 3.5M NaCl using polarization method. XRD result showed that the structure of obtained ZrO2, was amorphous. The corrosion rates for the four samples SS, PS, ZS, and PZ were 2,36×10-2, 1,3×10-5 1,35×10-7, and 5,97×10-7mpy, respectively. The result of corrosion rate showed that the lowest corrosion rate was steel coated with ZrO2, (ZS). It was 1,35 × 10-7mpy. The result indicated that the zirconia coating is a prospective material for anti-corrosion.