Role of low-dimensional carbon nanostructures in hybrid material as anticorrosive coating

In this work, different low-dimensional carbon nanostructures (graphite oxide, graphene oxide and amino-functionalized graphene oxide and graphite oxide) integrated into a hybrid, organic-inorganic matrix, were developed, obtaining different nanocomposite coatings. The hybrid matrix was obtained from an inorganic component, tetraethyl orthosilicate, and an organic composition resin, diglycidyl ether bisphenol-A. Each of the different coatings were separately applied on AISI 1018 carbon steel surfaces. The corrosion test was carried out by Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy on the coated metal in two different media, saline and acidic. The resistance to charge transfer was higher for coating containing graphene oxide in both electrolytes. A comparison between the coating's performance containing graphite oxide and graphene oxide showed that the exfoliation of graphite oxide is important to have a greater distribution and intercalation of the low dimensionality sheets inside the hybrid matrix up to form a uniform protective barrier. Wear test were carried out and structural stability of the coatings after 100 cycles was demonstrated, showing the persistent Si–O–Si groups produce a protection against corrosion to AISI 1018 carbon steel.