A fast and straightforward chemical method to attain
reduced graphene
oxide (rGO) nanoplatelets that highly functionalized with nonpolar
aliphatic groups and their high performance against corrosion is disclosed
for the first time. Graphene oxide (GO) was functionalized with trimethoxy(propyl)silane
(TMPS) to obtain Propyl-GO through a microwave-assisted method in
just 10 min. Scanning electron microscopy–energy-dispersive
X-ray revealed a homogeneous distribution of TMPS on the GO surface.
Propyl-GO was reduced to obtin highly exfoliated and functionalized
nanosheets (Propyl-rGO). Moreover, Propyl-rGO and Propyl-GO were used
as additives (0.5 wt %) within an epoxy resin (ER) to obtain ER/Propyl-rGO
and ER/Propyl-GO nanocomposite coatings, respectively. ER/Propyl-rGO
deposited on A36 structural steel (ER/Propyl-rGO/A36SS) exhibited
a hydrophobic behavior, strong adhesion, and significant corrosion
protection in a saline medium (1 M NaCl; 58.4 g/L). Interestingly,
this functional nanocomposite coating, diminished the corrosion current
density by 6 orders of magnitude (i
corr = 3.6 × 10–12 A/cm2) compared
with A36SS coated with ER (i
corr = 1.6
× 10–6 A/cm2). Also, the corrosion
potential (E
corr) was noticeably decremented
from −530 mV (neat ER) to −190 mV (ER/Propyl-rGO). Electrochemical
impedance spectroscopy assessments suggested a corrosion mechanism
controlled by a charge-transfer adsorption process promoted by basal-plane
restructuration from rGO. The strategy proposed herein offers an original
pathway to achieve nanocomposites with outstanding hydrophobicity,
hardness, adhesion, and exceptional protection against corrosion.