Comparison of new hydrazone epoxy coatings and their nanocomposite derivatives

Abstract In this study, epoxy resin containing hydrazone groups was cured with polyetheramine (Jeffamine D2000) and nanoparticles (carbon nanotubes, graphene, and fullerenes) to obtain new epoxy nanocomposite coatings as alternatives for epoxy coatings for metallic surfaces. In the initial stage, hydrazone was synthesized, and the epoxidation reaction was carried out with EPC (epichlorohydrin). Subsequently, the newly formulated hydrazone-based epoxy resin was cured with polyetheramine (Jeffamine D2000) and nanoparticles (carbon nanotubes, graphene, and fullerenes) at varying temperatures (25–120°C) to yield novel epoxy nanocomposite coatings. The characterization of the resins and coatings was conducted through a combination of nuclear magnetic resonance, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis. The DSC results indicate that the cured films have glass transition temperatures approximately 107°C. The amine-cured epoxides were obtained with fairly high Tg values and good thermal stability. In addition, the mechanical properties (hardness, impact resistance, and adhesion) of the new hydrazone-based organic nanocomposite coatings obtained in this study were also examined. Furthermore, a comparative analysis was conducted between the thermal and mechanical properties of the novel epoxy coatings and their nanoparticle-containing derivatives, thereby unveiling the effect of nanoparticles on the properties of the coatings.