Anticorrosion Behavior of Zeolite Coatings Obtained by In Situ Crystallization: A Critical Review

Zeolites are crystalline nanoporous aluminosilicates. Thanks to their intrinsically nanoporous structure they are widely used as molecular sieves, for exchanging ions, or, also thanks to the high surface area of these structures, for catalytic applications. Furthermore, thanks to their thermal and chemical stability, in recent years zeolite coatings have been evaluated for application as anti-corrosion coatings. The non-toxicity of this class of coatings makes it possible that they will be an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional chromate-based coatings. This article provides a brief review of the anti-corrosion performance of zeolite coatings, applied by direct synthesis technique to several metals and alloys, as discussed in the literature. After a short description of the microstructure and properties of zeolites, the discussion addresses the research activities related to this topic, as reported in the literature. Comparative analysis of literature results supported the dry-gel conversion method as a promising approach that combines a simplified synthesis procedure with anti-corrosion coating performance. Based on these considerations, an evaluation of future trends is discussed along with the final remarks.