Resistance of metallic substrates protected by an organic coating containing glass flakes

The resistance against corrosion of an epoxy-polyamine-based coating immersed in a 3 wt.% sodium chloride solution was investigated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The organic coating contained glass flakes as pigment in order to enhance its barrier characteristics. The data show that this coating is more strongly adhered and exhibits higher protection characteristics when applied onto carbon steel substrates than on galvanized steel. Though the capacitance of the coating (C-C) does not show any appreciable variation with immersion time, the resistance (R-PO) of the film is observed to increase with time upon immersion. The analysis of the data sustains that the organic film behaves as a porous, non-barrier coating. Two time constants are observed even at earlier exposures, and the improved corrosion resistance developed after the coating system was exposed to the test electrolyte is considered to originate from the precipitation of corrosion products within the pores in the film. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.