Corrosion prevention prospects of polymeric nanocomposites: A review

Abstract

Corrosion is a serious problem for implementing metallic components and devices in industrial zones. Considerable effort has been made to develop corrosion prevention strategies. Initially, paints, pigments, and organic coatings have been applied to prevent metal corrosion. Consequently, conjugated polymers, epoxy resin, phenolics, acrylic polymers, and many thermoplastics as well as thermoset resins have been used to inhibit corrosion. Lately, nanofillers such as fullerene, nanodiamond, graphene, graphene oxide, carbon nanotube, carbon black, nanoclay, and inorganic nanoparticle have been introduced in polymeric matrices to harness valuable corrosion protection properties of the nanocomposite. Corrosion protection performance of a nanocomposite depends on nanofiller dispersion, physical and covalent interaction between matrix/nanofiller and nanofiller adhesion to the substrate. Moreover, a high performance anti-corrosion nanocomposite must have good barrier properties, and high scratch, impact, abrasion, and chemical resistance. Thus, polymeric nanocomposites have been found to prevent corrosion in aerospace and aircraft structural parts, electronic components, bipolar plates in fuel cells, and biomedical devices and systems. However, numerous challenges need to be addressed in this field to attain superior corrosion resistant nanocomposites. Future research on polymer nanocomposites has the potential to resolve the current challenges of metal corrosion through entire replacement of metal-based materials with advanced nanomaterials.