The chemistry and challenges of functional polymers for corrosion protection - poster

Joseph Watson, Matthew Unthank
Northumbria University

Organic thermoset polymer coatings based on epoxy curing methods have been used extensively to provide excellent physical protection to metal substrates such as aluminium from corrosive environments. However, in the case of automotive protection the complex shapes of alloy wheels lead to uneven coating, with less physical protection on sharp edges making them more susceptible to damage form road debris.
Once exposed to the environment high humidity and corrosive species such as chloride salts can initiate filiform corrosion. Filiform corrosion is identified by its unique thread like appearance, which propagates across a metal surface underneath the polymer coating. To combat this type of corrosion coatings have been developed to provide active protection in response to an external stimulus. Here methacrylic monomers have been synthesised with the goal of either neutralising the acidic environment of the filiform head or increasing the adhesion between the coating metal interface.
Unique methods of sample preparation have been used to test material and surface properties of cured epoxy thermoset coatings. Whilst exploring the correlation between coatings physical properties and their corrosion resistance performance under accelerated corrosion conditions.