Researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology-Guwahati (IIT-G) have developed a corrosion-resistant epoxy coating for protecting steel structures exposed to seawater and high-salinity environments. “The findings of the research have been published in the Advanced Engineering Materials journal, in a paper co-authored by Prof. Chandan Das, department of chemical engineering, IIT-Guwahati, along with research scholar Anil Kumar,” a statement issued by the institute on Wednesday said. Corrosion is a natural and gradual process that weakens metal surfaces and shortens the lifespan of essential structures, particularly those exposed to saltwater environments, such as offshore platforms, coastal bridges, port infrastructure and marine pipelines. Researchers at IIT-G have combined graphene oxide (RGO), zinc oxide (ZnO) and polyaniline (PANI) into one coating system.
The novel nanocomposite has been developed by attaching zinc oxide nanorods to reduced graphene oxide and then wrapping this structure with polyaniline. The composite was then blended into an epoxy coating and evaluated using several characterisation methods. “The developed epoxy coating has shown improved performance compared to standard epoxy. It formed a denser and more uniform barrier, showed stronger adhesion to the steel surface, and slowed the movement of corrosive elements more effectively,” the institute claimed. Speaking about the research, Prof. Das, said, “The incorporation of RGO-ZnO-PANI nanocomposite into epoxy coating offers a promising strategy for achieving long-term corrosion resistance in harsh marine environments. As the next step, we are working towards assessing the long-term durability, real-world performance, and life-cycle impact of this coating.