TiO2‐epoxy nanocomposites coated steel: Surface morphology, spectroscopic, and photocatalytic characteristics

Abstract

Nanocomposite coatings on metal surfaces provide unique material characteristics that play a strategic role in improving overall product/process quality. Thus, nanocomposite finds applications in different sectors such as petroleum, automobile, electrical and electronics, chemical, medical, metallurgy, food packaging, and air purification. This study focused on the fabrication of TiO2‐epoxy nanocomposites for coating on steel sheet and analyzing their properties. The nanocomposites were prepared at 2%, 4%, and 8% (w/w) TiO2 particle loading content. Different coated sheets were analyzed for surface morphology, spectroscopic, and photocatalytic characteristics. Field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) images showed uniform particle distribution of TiO2 in the epoxy matrix at a lower concentration. Besides, TiO2 nanoparticle cluster sizes ranged from 79.6 to 172 nm, 79.5 to 237 nm, and 122 to 164 nm for the samples of 2%, 4%, and 8% TiO2 content, respectively. The Ti weight percent significantly increased from 1.69% to 7.34% with the rise in the level of TiO2 filler in the TiO2‐epoxy matrix, whereas O content varies from 22.07% to 26.02%. A characteristic absorption peak of TiO2 at nearly 700 cm−1 in all the Fourier‐transform infrared (FTIR) spectra of samples was detected. Degradation of methylene blue (MB) in the photocatalytic (UV‐C + TiO2) process was significantly higher than photolysis (UV‐C) in a photoreactor. The degradation rate of MB increased with treatment time and TiO2 loading content in the samples. Besides, after 1 h of treatment, maximal degradation of MB was 1.58% for photolysis whereas 1.96%, 2.63%, and 3.51% for the coated sheet of 2%, 4%, and 8% TiO2, respectively. Overall, the superior quality of steel sheets was obtained when coated with TiO2‐epoxy nanocomposites.