Graphene oxide loaded dopamine modified zirconium dioxide nanocomposites to enhance the corrosion resistance of epoxy resin coatings

To address the corrosion issues of metal materials, epoxy resin coating (EP) has been selected for corrosion protection. This paper presents the synthesis of a novel PDA-ZrO 2 /GO/EP composite coating, created using dopamine (DA)-modified zirconium dioxide nanoparticles loaded onto graphene oxide (GO). First, the PDA-ZrO 2 /GO composite particles were synthesized through the strong adhesion properties of polydopamine (PDA). These particles were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The optimal adhesion of the particles was achieved at a mass ratio of ZrO 2 to GO of 1:0.05. Subsequently, the effects of different particle additions on the corrosion resistance of the coated samples were comparatively analyzed through electrochemical impedance testing, salt spray tests, and water contact angle tests. The results indicate that the PDA-ZrO 2 /GO/EP composite coating exhibits the best corrosion resistance. Notably, after 21 days of immersion, the impedance modulus (|Z|) reached 1.908 × 10 5 Ω cm 2 , which is two orders of magnitude higher than the 7.237 × 10 3 Ω cm 2 of the pure EP coating, thus providing a reliable anticorrosive solution for metallic materials.