Anticorrosion properties of an epoxy zinc-rich composite coating reinforced with zinc, aluminum, and iron oxide pigments

The effects of lamellar aluminum (Al) and micaceous iron oxide (MIO) pigments on the anticorrosion properties of an epoxy zinc-rich coating were studied. To this end, the epoxy zinc-rich coatings containing 70% w/w spherical Zn particles, 60% w/w Zn + 10% w/w MIO, and 60% w/w Zn + 10% w/w Al were prepared. The electrochemical noise (ECN), potentiostatic polarization technique, and salt spray test were employed in order to investigate the anticorrosion performances of the zinc-rich coatings. The zinc-rich coatings morphologies were studied by scanning electron microscope (SEM) before and after the salt spray test. The open-circuit potential values were also measured at different immersion times. Results showed that MIO particles could enhance the cathodic protection duration of the zinc-rich coating by enhancing its barrier properties and reducing the zinc particles oxidation rate. It was also shown that Al particles reduced zinc-rich coating sacrificial behavior at short immersion times and increased it at long immersion times. Unlike MIO particles, Al particles behaved both as barrier and sacrificial pigment.