The hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN)
nanosheets have been used as
nanofillers to improve the barrier properties of the waterborne epoxy
(WEP) coatings. However, the h-BN nanosheets tend to agglomerate,
which limits their anticorrosion applications. In this paper, the
h-BN/polyaniline (h-BN/PANI) nanocomposites were prepared by the in
situ polymerization of aniline on the surfaces of the h-BN nanosheets,
which were further used to improve the anticorrosion performance of
the WEP coatings. The structures of the as-prepared h-BN/PANI nanocomposites
were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron
microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric
analysis, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The anticorrosion
performances of the coatings were evaluated by electrochemical impedance
spectroscopy. After immersion in 3.5 wt % NaCl solution for 28 days,
the macro-morphologies and elemental changes of the substrate surfaces
were analyzed by a 3D digital microscope and an energy-dispersive
spectroscope, respectively. The results showed that the WEP coatings
with the h-BN/PANI nanocomposites, especially that with 2 wt % h-BN/PANI
nanocomposites, exhibited remarkably reinforced anticorrosion performance
compared to the pure WEP coating. For the WEP coating, the coating
with 1 wt % PANI, and the coating with 1 wt % h-BN, the substrates
have been completely corroded. However, there was no obvious corrosion
region for the coating containing 2 wt % h-BN/PANI nanocomposites.
The superior anticorrosion performance of the coatings with h-BN/PANI
nanocomposites was mainly attributed to the synergistic effect of
the well-dispersed h-BN/PANI nanocomposites as the physical barrier
and PANI as the corrosion inhibitor in this system.