Synergistic effect of Ag and ZnO nanoparticles on polyaniline incorporated epoxy/2pack coatings for splash zone applications

In this work, epoxy/2pack coatings containing polyaniline (PANI) in combination with Ag and ZnO nanoparticles have been synthesized. The nanoparticles were incorporated with bisphenol-A diglycidyl ether epoxy resin and polyamino-amide. The mechanical properties of the fabricated coatings, such as the pendulum hardness, scratch resistance, and impact strength, were studied. The composition of the fabricated coatings was confirmed by attenuated total reflectance infrared spectroscopy measurements. The thermal degradation and indentations were characterized through the use of differential scanning calorimetry and nano-indentation techniques, respectively. The surface morphology of the fabricated coatings was characterized using field-emission scanning electron microscopy. The synergistic effects of the Ag and ZnO nanoparticles on the corrosion resistance of the coatings after different exposure periods in 3.5% NaCl solutions were determined by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. All the results were consistent with one another and confirmed that the addition of Ag and ZnO nanoparticles improved the mechanical properties of the coatings. This effect also led to a notable increase in the corrosion resistance of the PANI coatings.