Nanocomposites of ZnO and some selected
polymers, namely, poly(ethylene
glycol), poly(vinylpyrrolidone), and polyacrylonitrile, were synthesized
and characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy,
ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric
analysis (TGA), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques.
The FTIR and UV–vis spectra confirmed the successful formation
of the polymer nanocomposites. TGA results revealed that the synthesized
polymer nanocomposites are more thermally stable than the polymers
alone. ZnO nanoparticles were about 50–75 nm in size, assumed
a rodlike shape, and got embedded in the polymer matrices, as revealed
by TEM images. Corrosion inhibition potentials of the synthesized
ZnO/polymer nanocomposites were investigated for mild steel in 5%
HCl solution using potentiodynamic polarization (PDP), linear polarization
resistance, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements.
The results showed that each ZnO/polymer nanocomposite inhibits mild
steel corrosion in 5% HCl solution better than the respective polymer
alone. The nanocomposites, according to PDP studies, behaved as a
mixed-type inhibitor. The predominant mode of adsorption of the nanocomposites
to a mild steel surface was found to be mixed type, and the adsorption
process obeys the Langmuir adsorption isotherm model. Scanning electron
microscopy images also revealed the protective attributes of the ZnO/polymer
nanocomposites for mild steel in 5% HCl solution.