Enhancing anticorrosive performance of epoxy‐based ZnO nanocomposite coatings via 3‐(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate modification

Abstract

The influence of 3‐(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate (TMSPM) on the properties of epoxy‐based ZnO nanocomposite coatings was investigated, considering its impact on both modified ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) and epoxy resin matrix. FTIR analysis revealed that TMSPM‐modified epoxy resin (mEP) exhibited lower hydroxyl group and epoxy group content compared to the initial epoxy resin (EP). Furthermore, the obtained results demonstrated that epoxy‐based coatings incorporating modified ZnO NPs (m‐ZnO NPs) displayed superior mechanical properties compared to those of the sample filled with the unmodified ZnO NPs (u‐ZnO NPs). However, the mechanical properties of epoxy‐based coatings loaded with m‐ZnO NPs were found to be lower than those of coatings comprising mEP resin and m‐ZnO NPs. The arrangement of anticorrosion performance of coatings followed a similar pattern. SEM analysis of the cross‐cut surface revealed better dispersion of m‐ZnO NPs compared to the u‐ZnO NPs, although small gaps were observed among the m‐ZnO NPs and the epoxy matrix. The SEM images of coatings based on mEP and m‐ZnO NPs indicated a tighter structure. This structural characteristic is considered the main reason for the highest anticorrosion performance observed in the investigated coatings incorporating both mEP and m‐ZnO NPs.