Polymer/layered silicate nanocomposite anticorrosive coatings

Polymer/layered silicate (PLS) nanocomposites have recently drawn intense attention from polymer scientists, physicists, and material scientists because of their unique properties resulted from the combining characteristics of both components at nanoscaled level. No matter the measure-journal articles, patents as well as industry research and development (R&D) funding-efforts in PLS nanocomposite had been exponentially growing worldwide for the past 10 years. Aside from the understanding in fabrication, characterization, and improved mechanical and other properties, the measurement of corrosion protection effects of PLS nanocomposites in the form of coating is crucial to gain fundamental understanding of anticorrosion mechanism of these materials. In the case of PLS nanocomposites, the measurements of anticorrosive properties are also helpful to find out the gas barrier properties of polymer-layered silicate interactions and the structure-property relationship in nanocomposites. This is because anticorrosive performances are strongly influenced by their nanoscale structure and interfacial characteristics. In this article, recent advances in PLS nanocomposite anticorrosive coatings are highlighted. (C) 2008 The Korean Society of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.