Designing an eco-friendly graphene oxide-based titanium tetra-acetoximate modified epoxy coating for anti-corrosion properties of aluminium

For increased durability, efficient protective coatings must be developed because aluminium is more susceptible to corrosion under harsh conditions. In this research, an innovative graphene oxide (GO) based titanium tetra-acetoximate epoxy composite coating (GO-TTA-epoxy) was developed and evaluated for aluminium substrates. Coatings provide an effective barrier to enhance aluminum’s resistance to corrosion, improving its durability and lifespan. Comparative analysis was conducted against graphene oxide-epoxy (GO-epoxy) and bare epoxy coatings. The microstructural and elemental characteristics of the coatings were examined using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), while X-ray Diffraction (XRD) was utilized to investigate structural vibrations in the nanoparticles. The corrosion resistance was assessed through salt spray tests in a 5% NaCl solution and further characterized using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) in a 3.5% NaCl solution. The GO-TTA-epoxy coating exhibited superior anticorrosion performance, having a rate of corrosion 0.025 mm/year and a protection efficiency of 95.17% and after 96 h of immersion, the GO–TTA–Epoxy coating showed exceptional anticorrosion performance, with a charge transfer resistance of 87,753 Ω cm2, about three times greater than that of the GO–Epoxy coating (28,444 Ω cm2), proving its better protective capabilities. Furthermore, it maintained exceptional resistance after 45 days of immersion in saltwater. These findings demonstrate that the incorporation of TTA into GO-epoxy notably enhances the protective performance of the coating, making it an appropriate approach for enhancing barrier to corrosion and durability of aluminium in aggressive environments.