Enhanced epoxy coating based on cerium loaded Na-montmorillonite as active anti-corrosive nanoreservoirs for corrosion protection of mild steel: Synthesis, characterization, and electrochemical behavior

In this study, Na-montmorillonite (MMT) was intercalated with the cerium cations. The Ce3+ cations intercalated sodium montmorillonite (Ce-MMT) nanoreservoirs were incorporated into the epoxy coating. The active inhibitive performance of the synthesized nanoreservoirs and their effect on the protective behavior of the epoxy coating was investigated in the present study. For this purpose, field emission scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analyses were employed to characterize the synthesized nanoreservoirs. Characterization results showed that the Ce3+ cations successfully intercalated into the MMT structure. The active anti-corrosion performance of the Ce-MMT was proved by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), potentiodynamic polarization, open circuit potential, and salt spray tests. In the electrolyte phase, the obtained results showed that the corrosion resistance of the steel samples significantly improved in the presence of the Ce-MMT extract and the observed corrosion efficiency was about 93%. Also, the results of surface study confirmed the subsequent effect of the active nanoreservoirs on the chemical composition and surface morphology of the steel samples. In the coating phase, the result of the EIS and salt spray tests confirmed the enhanced inhibitive behavior of the epoxy coating in the presence of the Ce-MMT nanoreservoirs.