High‐Performance Epoxy Coatings With Mixed Metal Nitride and Graphene Oxide Nanocomposites for Industrial Applications

ABSTRACT This study aims to enhance the anticorrosion and mechanical performance of epoxy coatings by incorporating tantalum nitride (TaN), zirconium nitride (ZrN), 2‐mercaptobenzothiazole (MBT), and graphene oxide (GO) into various nanocomposite formulations. Electrochemical assessments via SECM and EIS demonstrated that the EP/GO/MBT‐TaN/ZrN nanocomposite coating provided superior corrosion resistance in seawater, exhibiting a significantly low current density (1.7 nA) and high coating and charge transfer resistances (2.98 × 10 11 and 3.57 × 10 11 Ω·cm², respectively) after 900 h of immersion. The enhanced performance is attributed to the synergistic effects of the nanomaterials: MBT functionalizes TaN and ZrN nanoparticles via mercapto groups, improving interfacial bonding with the steel substrate and enhancing compatibility with the epoxy matrix, leading to uniform dispersion and reduced porosity. As a result, the EP/GO/MBT‐TaN/ZrN coating exhibits excellent adhesion strength (20.4 MPa), hardness (1382 MPa), and hydrophobicity (163°), making it a highly promising candidate for long‐term corrosion protection in marine and other harsh industrial environments.