Development of a hybrid organic-inorganic inhibitive pigment incorporating zinc cations and astragalus hamosus extract for corrosion-resistant coatings

A hybrid organic-inorganic inhibitor, Zn@AH, was synthesized by combining zinc nitrate with astragalus hamosus (AH) extract and characterized using experimental techniques. Electrochemical analyses revealed that Zn@AH significantly improved corrosion resistance, increasing the total resistance from 3014 Ω cm 2 for the uninhibited solution to13310 Ω cm 2 for the inhibitor-containing solution after 96 h of immersion. Additionally, the inhibitor exhibited self-healing properties, forming a dense protective layer at scratch sites that effectively prevented further corrosion. The incorporation of Zn@AH profoundly ameliorated the adhesion strength and storage modulus of the polymer coating, enhancing its durability in corrosive environments. This study provides a green and sustainable alternative for protecting steel in neutral saline environments.