Si3N4@RGO Hybrids for Epoxy Coatings With Enhanced Anticorrosion Performance

The reduced graphene oxide (RGO)‐encapsulated functionalized silicon nitride hybrids (f‐Si 3 N 4 @RGO) were fabricated from sodium borohydride reduction of electrostatically assembled f‐Si 3 N 4 @GO hybrids with the help of silane coupling agent. The waterborne epoxy coating with 2 wt% f‐Si 3 N 4 @RGO was prepared by a room temperature curing process. The corrosion resistance properties of the coating were investigated. In the f‐Si 3 N 4 @RGO/epoxy coating, the unique structure of f‐Si 3 N 4 particles firmly embedded in the RGO sheets could effectively prevent the agglomeration of graphene in the epoxy and construct shielding barrier at the coating‐tinplate interface. The results showed that the anticorrosive performance of the coating was significantly enhanced by incorporation of f‐Si 3 N 4 @RGO hybrids to epoxy. This superior f‐Si 3 N 4 @RGO structure with its prominent dispersion could make full use of the enhancement effect of the different components and thus endowed the waterborne epoxy coating with good shielding properties. POLYM. COMPOS., 2018. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers