Use of 2D Sulfide and Oxide Compounds as Functional Semiconducting Pigments in Protective Organic Coatings Containing Zinc Dust

Within this study, the influence of particles of different types, natures, and sizes on the mechanical and corrosion resistance of pigmented systems containing spherical zinc was studied. For this study, prominent representatives from the group of transition metal dichalcogenides (MoS2, WS2), layered transition metal oxides (MoO3, WO3), and other semiconductor materials (ZnS and ZnO) were used. The layered ultra-thin structure of these particles was predisposed to provide enhanced mechanical and anti-corrosion performance. The mechanical properties of the studied coatings were tested using standardized mechanical tests, while the anti-corrosion performance of these coatings was studied using standardized cyclic corrosion tests and the linear polarization electrochemical technique. The results of the experimental techniques bring completely original knowledge about the action of these pigments in paint systems pigmented with zinc. The results of experimental techniques have shown enhancement and an increase in both mechanical and anti-corrosion performance when using these special types of inorganic pigments. In particular, with organic coatings pigmented with MoO3, there was an increase in mechanical resistance mainly due to its morphology and layered structure. In addition, a significant enhancement of the anti-corrosion efficiency was noted for this type of organic coating due to the enhancement of individual types of action mechanisms typical and proven for zinc-pigmented systems. These original findings can be used in the search for possibilities to reduce the zinc content in zinc-pigmented organic coatings. This partial replacement of zinc particles leads not only to a reduction in the zinc content in the system but also to a significant strengthening of the mechanical resistance and an increase in the corrosion efficiency of the system.