International. In a recent study, scientists from Japan and Indonesia fabricated a self-healing polymer coating with super-absorbent polymer microfibers that provide corrosion inhibition in carbon steel.
In a present study, multilayer polymer coatings composed of the microfibers of a superabsorbent polymer (SAP) were applied to carbon steel to promote corrosion inhibition. SAP microfibers were made by mixing SAP powder with water, which created a film that could then be coated onto a glass plate where it was left to dry and then cut with a sharp edge using a 3-axis desktop robot.
Water/polymer ratios between 20 and 60 produced SAP microfibers 30 to 50 μm in diameter. The prepared SAP microfibers were mixed with vinylester polymer (VEP), and then coated on a substrate. The samples were scratched with the edge of a knife, and then the polarization resistance was measured in a 0.5% by weight NaCl solution.
A coating with VEP as the base and top layers and 5% by weight of SAP microfibers as the middle layer, showed a polarization resistance that increased with the test time and demonstrated the inhibition of self-healing corrosion. A thin corrosion protective film formed on the striped surface of the sample coated with SAP microfibers.
Measuring the polarization curves at various test times confirmed that SAP film had corrosion protection qualities that prevented anodic and cathodic reactions. SAP Fiberization resulted in large SAP releases of the coating that continued for an extended period of time.
Source: www.sciencedirect.com
