Innovative Epoxy Coating Developed by IIT Guwahati to Combat Marine Corrosion
Breakthrough in Corrosion-Resistant Coatings
Guwahati, Dec 5: A team of researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati has created a new epoxy coating designed to resist corrosion in steel structures that are frequently exposed to seawater and high-salinity conditions.
The results of this research have been published in the journal Advanced Engineering Materials, with contributions from Prof Chandan Das of the Chemical Engineering Department and his research scholar, Dr Anil Kumar.
Corrosion is a gradual process that compromises metal integrity and reduces the lifespan of critical structures, especially those in saltwater environments, including offshore platforms, coastal bridges, port facilities, and marine pipelines. This issue has been linked to significant industrial disasters, such as the Bhopal gas tragedy in 1984 and the Guadalajara explosion in 1992.
Moreover, corrosion leads to environmental harm and affects both human and aquatic ecosystems.
While barrier coatings are commonly employed for corrosion protection, they often fail to provide complete coverage and develop tiny defects over time, which allows moisture and salts to infiltrate and damage the metal beneath.
To tackle this issue, researchers globally have been experimenting with enhancing epoxy coatings by incorporating various nanomaterials.
Nanomaterials are extremely small particles, significantly smaller than a human hair, that can improve the strength, durability, and protective capabilities of coatings.
Although many studies have focused on single materials or basic combinations, no prior research has successfully integrated reduced graphene oxide (RGO), zinc oxide (ZnO), and polyaniline (PANI) into a single epoxy coating aimed at marine corrosion protection.
The IIT Guwahati team has successfully combined these three materials into one cohesive coating system.
This innovative nanocomposite was created by attaching zinc oxide nanorods to reduced graphene oxide and then encasing this structure with polyaniline. The resulting composite was mixed into an epoxy coating and assessed using various characterization techniques.
The newly developed epoxy coating demonstrated superior performance compared to conventional epoxy. It established a denser and more uniform barrier, exhibited stronger adhesion to the steel surface, and effectively slowed the penetration of corrosive agents.
These properties make it ideal for use in marine infrastructure, offshore platforms, shipbuilding, coastal pipelines, and other steel structures that endure constant exposure to saltwater.
“Integrating the RGO-ZnO-PANI nanocomposite into the epoxy coating presents a promising approach for achieving long-lasting corrosion resistance in challenging marine environments. Our next steps involve evaluating the long-term durability, real-world performance, and life-cycle impact of this coating,” stated Prof Das.
By
Staff Reporter