Corrosion protection behaviour of silica–titania hybrid coatings embedded with silica nanoparticles

Abstract

Hybrid sol-gel coatings prepared using organically modified silanes and corrosion inhibitors are used for the surface protection of metals and alloys. This paper focuses on the corrosion behaviour and compatibility of silica nanoparticles as nanocontainers in silica–titania hybrid system. The surface protection of the alloy is improved by using silica nanoparticles as nanocontainers for cerium (III) inhibitor. The hybrid coating system protected AA2024-T3 alloy effectively against corrosion when immersed in NaCl solution for prolonged hours. The barrier property of the sol-gel film was found to be reinforced due to the presence of cerium nitrate inhibitor in the silica nanoparticles.

Keywords:

• Sol-gel
• Corrosion
• AA 2024
• Cerium inhibitor
• Nano silica

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Shri. Shyam Chetty, Director, NAL and Dr C. Anandan, Head, Surface Engineering Division, NAL for their support and encouragement. The authors acknowledge Dr Balaraju for extending the salt spray test facility. Thanks to Dr Parthasarathi Bera, Mr Siju and Mr Praveen for XPS, FESEM and roughness profilometry studies respectively. The authors thank Mr Jerald for the help received in the schematic representation.

Supplemental data

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed at 10.1080/02670844.2016.1263431

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, India [Grant Number SIP-SED-04].