Hybrid coatings based on conducting polymers and polysiloxane chains for corrosion protection of Al alloys

M. TRUEBA; S.P. TRASATTI; D.O. FLAMINI

Roma

Workshop; Corrosion Modeling for Life Prediction 2010. 2nd International Workshop; 2010

U.S. Office of Naval Research, Office of Naval Research Global and University of Milan

It was previously demonstrated that the use of a pyrrole-based silane (PySi) for surface treatment of Al alloys provide active and barrier protection due to hybrid coating composition, containing polypyrrole and polysiloxane chains. To further explore these features a wider range of Al substrates and different silane-based formulations in terms of silane molecule, solvent nature, water amount and pH, were investigated. Also, some tests were carried out by using aniline-based silane (AniSi). Structural/morphology characterization of the coatings, as well as the investigation of PySi solution by different spectroscopic techniques, in addition to corrosion tests in NaCl, strongly support the very promising protection performance of the hybrid film. This is indicated as well from the prelyminary results obtained with AniSi-based approach. Thus, typical silane-based treatments with principally barrier action can gain in active properties if the silane compound contain as a funtional group monomers of conducting polymers.