Investigations on the performance of poly(o-toluidine)/silicon dioxide nanocomposite coatings for the corrosion protection of mild steel.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the presence of silicon dioxide (SiO2) nanoparticles in o-toluidine monomer as a reactant and ammonium persulfate as an oxidant to obtain the poly(o-toluidine) (POT)/SiO2 nanocomposites by oxidative polymerization method. Design/methodology/approach: Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and field emission scanning electron microscopy were used to characterize the structural properties of the composite. POT/SiO2 nanocomposites were mixed with acrylic resin through a solution mixing method and the composites were coated onto the surface of mild steel. Electrochemical measurements were used to determine the corrosion protection efficiency (P.E.%) of polymer composite coatings using 3.5% NaCl solution as corrosion environment. Findings: The results obtained reveals that the POT/SiO2/acrylic resin composite coatings have got higher corrosion P.E.% than that of POT/acrylic resin coatings. Originality/value: The formation of uniformly passive layer in the POT/SiO2 composite was used to enhance the P.E.% on mild steel surface. The POT/SiO2/acrylic resin nanocomposites showed effective anticorrosive behavior on mild steel in 3.5% NaCl solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]