Epoxy-matrix polyaniline/p-phenylenediamine-functionalised graphene oxide coatings with dual anti-corrosion and anti-fouling performance

This research work reports on the anti-corrosion and anti-fouling properties of epoxy (E) coatings reinforced with polyaniline (PANI)/p-phenylenediamine-functionalised graphene oxide (PGO) composites. The mass ratio of graphene oxide/p-phenylenediamine in any PGO was assumed to be 1 : 1, but different PANI–PGO composites containing various loadings of PGO were prepared. An ultrasonic-assisted in situ polymerization method was employed to produce PANI–PGO at low temperature (0 °C). Several analytical and microscopical techniques, i.e., Fourier-transfer infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), were used to confirm that PANI–PGO composites were successfully synthesized. The epoxy-based coatings (E/PANI–PGO (x), x = 0.05–0.4 g) were applied by brushing them onto carbon steel substrates, which exhibited dual anti-corrosion and anti-fouling performance. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) results show that E/PANI–PGO (0.2) has the highest corrosion resistance (8.87 × 10(6) Ω cm(2)) after 192 h of immersion in 3.5 wt% NaCl amongst all the coatings compared with neat epoxy (1.00 × 10(4) Ω cm(2)) and E/PANI (6.82 × 10(3) Ω cm(2)). Efficient antifouling performance at the macroscopic level under simulated marine conditions was observed for the epoxy-based PANI–PGO coatings with a range of PGO compositions, in particular for the 0.1 and 0.2 g PGO coatings.