SYNTHESIS OF CLAY/EPOXY ESTER COMPOSITE COATINGS FOR CORROSION PROTECTION OF ALUMINUM ALLOYS

The corrosion inhibition of clay/epoxy ester hybrid coatings was determined by using the direct current polarization test, DCPT. Corrosion inhibition of the coatings was measured in terms of corrosion current density (Icorr) and corrosion rate (Corr Rate). The presence of clay significantly improved the corrosion resistance of the coatings. The resistance of the coatings to high strain rate deformation was measured by dynamic mechanical spectrometry, DMS. The dynamic mechanical analysis data was presented in the form of storage modulus versus temperature curves and tan delta versus temperature curves. The thermo-mechanical properties of the coatings improved in the presence of clay and epoxy silane. The addition of clay also increased the glass-rubber transition temperature but decreased the height of the tan delta peak.