Sol-gel coating filled with SDS-stabilized fullerene nanoparticles for active corrosion protection of the magnesium alloy

Y Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate (SDS) surfactant was stabilized on the fullerene C60 nanoparticles. The raw, aminated (F-NH2), and SDS-stabilized (F-SDS) fullerene nanoparticles were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS), and Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA). Then, the functionalized nanoparticles were dispersed inside the sol-gel coating for active corrosion protection of AM60B magnesium alloy. Suitable dispersion of the F-SDS nanoparticles inside the sol-gel coating was confirmed by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). After addition of the F-NH2 and F-SDS nanoparticles, micrometric defects in the sol-gel coating disappeared. A relative increment in the surface roughness of the coating was observed by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) after incorporation of the F-NH2 and F-SDS nanoparticles. Also, a considerable improvement in the corrosion protection of the sol-gel coating after addition of the F-NH2 and F-SDS nanoparticles (500 ppm) was shown by Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) in 3.5 wt% NaCl. Based on the SEM and EDS-mapping analyses at the end of the corrosion tests, the corrosion damages of the F-SDS containing sol-gel coating has been considerably reduced.

Automated summary

In this study, SDS-stabilized fullerene C60 nanoparticles were dispersed in a sol-gel coating to enhance the corrosion protection of AM60B magnesium alloy. The incorporation of F-SDS nanoparticles led to a relative increase in surface roughness and improved corrosion resistance of the sol-gel coating, as confirmed by various characterization techniques. The corrosion damages of the sol-gel coating containing F-SDS were significantly reduced according to SEM and EDS-mapping analyses.