MECHANISM AND EVALUATION IN ELECTROINITIATED CO-POLYMERIZATION COATINGS OF ACRYLONITRILE AND ACRYLIC-ACID

Adherent films of copolymers on different metal surfaces were formed by an electrolytically initiated polymerization of acrylonitrile (AN) and acrylic acid (AA) in 0.05N H2SO4 aqueous solution. The electrolysis was carried out under a constant current. Hydrogen overvoltages for five different metals used as the cathode were measured in order to interpret the nature and quality of the coating. Solutions containing varying volume fractions of AN and containing different electrolytes gave rise to coatings of varying film thickness. Based on the analyses of copolymer compositions, it is believed that the polymer was formed at the cathode by a free‐radical propagation mechanism. The film hardness and the adhesion between the polymer and the metal surface were measured with an Arco microknife. Furthermore, the scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to examine the structure of the film surface and cross section. The corrosion rates of the coated and uncoated metals in substitute ocean water were also measured for purposes of evaluation of the coatings. Copyright © 1979 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.