Anti-corrosion zinc phosphate coating on building steel via a facile one-step brushing method

Zinc phosphate (ZP) was coated on building steel via a facile one-step brushing method. The microstructure, phase composition and corrosion resistance of the ZP coating were characterized and analyzed using a thermal field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), an X-ray diffractometer (XRD) and electrochemical measurements, respectively. The results were promising, with the coating demonstrating plate-like morphology, typical phase compositions of hopeite and minor phosphophyllite, as well as enhanced corrosion resistance in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution, providing a highly durable anti-corrosion surface for building steel in concrete structures.