Polyoligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS)-hydrogenated polybutadiene polyurethane coatings for corrosion inhibition of AA2024

A series of coatings were developed that help prevent corrosion of aluminum alloy 2024 (AA2024). The coatings were based on an aliphatic polyurethane-polyoligomeric silsesquioxane (PU-PUSS) resin. The materials were selected to exhibit a high level of hydrophobicity, which is expected to increase the moisture barrier properties, and thereby improve corrosion prevention. In addition, corrosion inhibitors (free molecules or encapsulated) were introduced into the coatings to improve corrosion resistance. The performance of the coatings was quantified using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and salt fog testing. Results from various formulations show that the hardness of the coating can be controlled by adjusting the ratio of PUSS to hydrogenated hydroxyl terminated polybutadiene in the formulation. The coatings also had remarkable barrier properties, fast curing, and very high adhesion to the treated AA2024 substrate, all of which are expected to improve the anti-corrosion properties of the coatings. The best corrosion protection of AA2024 was observed in a transparent 10 mu m thick PU-PUSS bilayer coating that contained a mixture of sodium-2-mercaptobenzothiazole (i.e., NACAP) and benzotriazoleladen hydrotalcite. It was found that only certain corrosion inhibitors (free molecules or encapsulated) improve the anti-corrosion properties of the coating, whereas other corrosion inhibitors may actually degrade the coating performance. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.