Anticorrosion, Thermal Degradation, and Hydrophobic Performances of Graphene/ [Formula: see text] Nanocomposite Coatings

Globally, researchers have devoted consistent efforts to producing excellent coating properties since coating plays an essential role in enhancing electrochemical performance and surface quality. In this study, TiO(2) nanoparticles in varying concentrations of 0.5, 1, 2, and 3 wt.% were added into the acrylic-epoxy polymeric matrix with 90:10 wt.% (90A:10E) ratio incorporated with 1 wt.% graphene, to fabricate graphene/ [Formula: see text] -based nanocomposite coating systems. Furthermore, the properties of the graphene/ [Formula: see text] composites were investigated by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, water contact angle (WCA) measurements, and cross-hatch test (CHT), respectively. Moreover, the field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) tests were conducted to investigate the dispersibility and anticorrosion mechanism of the coatings. The EIS was observed by determining the breakpoint frequencies over a period of 90 days. The results revealed that the [Formula: see text] nanoparticles were successfully decorated on the graphene surface by chemical bonds, which resulted in the graphene/ [Formula: see text] nanocomposite coatings exhibiting better dispersibility within the polymeric matrix. The WCA of the graphene/ [Formula: see text] coating increased along with the ratio of [Formula: see text] to graphene, achieving the highest CA of 120.85° for 3 wt.% of TiO(2). Excellent dispersion and uniform distribution of the [Formula: see text] nanoparticles within the polymer matrix were shown up to 2 wt.% of TiO(2) inclusion. Among the coating systems, throughout the immersion time, the graphene/ [Formula: see text] (1:1) coating system exhibited the best dispersibility and high impedance modulus values ([Formula: see text]), exceeding [Formula: see text] Ω [Formula: see text].