TiO₂-Modified Graphene Oxide Fillers Strengthen Acrylic Coated Samples Corrosion and Weathering Resistance on Q235 Steel

As an exceptional 2D nanofiller, graphene oxide (GO) is extensively employed to amplify the protective properties of coatings. The dispersion of GO significantly influences the protective efficacy of the coatings. Here, a surface modification of GO through the integration of nanosized titanium dioxide (TiO₂) was employed, thereby facilitating the synthesis of an FGO-TiO₂ nanoparticle characterized by a substantial interlayer spacing (0.91 nm). Subsequently, FGO-TiO₂ nanofiller was incorporated into an acrylic coating matrix, resulting in an advanced acrylic coated sample that simultaneously exhibits both corrosion resistance and UV protection properties. EIS analysis revealed that, after 350 h of immersion, the low-frequency impedance modulus of the FGO-TiO₂/acrylic coated sample reached 1.028 GΩ·cm², a significant increase compared to the pure acrylic coated sample (0.017 GΩ·cm²). This improvement suggests the enhanced dispersion of FGO-TiO₂ in the acrylic coating, which effectively lengthens the diffusion path for corrosive agents, and it is anticipated to replace the conventional primer-topcoat composite coating system.