ANNEALED PERFLUORINATED CATION-EXCHANGE POLYMERS FOR CORROSION-RESISTANT COATINGS

Casting and annealing a perfluorinated cation exchange (Nafion) polymer onto aluminum or 316SS results in a system which inhibits pitting and crevice corrosion that normally occurs in the presence of chloride ions and dissolved oxygen. This inhibition is believed to result from the unique chloride ion rejection properties of the annealed Nafion coating. Under neutral and basic conditions (pH > 5), localized corrosion is suppressed. Potentiodynamic polarization scans of the annealed Nafion coated aluminum and 316SS positive to the pitting potential of the bare electrode does not produce pits. Electrochemical impedance results show that corrosion is unchanged after the coated alloy has been polarized above the pitting potential. In addition, the electrochemical impedance results indicate that the electrical resistance of the coating is low, hardly increasing the uncompensated resistance above that found for the bare metal. Hence, the movement of water and positive ions through the coating is unhindered. Long-term stability and long-term corrosion inhibition afforded by the polymer must still be assessed to determine the practical limits of applicability of this coating system.