Anticorrosion Coatings Based on Zinc Phosphate and Zinc Molybdate Nanoparticles

Zinc phosphate, and zinc molybdate nanoparticles were prepared from inverse microemulsions of inorganic salts stabilized by a mixture of nonionic and ionic surfactants in cyclohexane. The optimal ratios of surfactants to inorganic salts were found experimentally. The resulting nanoparticles were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. These nanoparticles were then mixed to epoxy formulations, which were applied to steel coupons. After accelerated aging, the electrochemical characteristics of the corrosion were analyzed by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The nanoparticles increase the corrosion resistance of the coating, indicating that the use of zinc phosphate and zinc molybdate nanoparticles offer a promising route for the mitigation of steel corrosion.