Effects of carbon nanotubes-based composites on the corrosion protection and mechanical properties of polymer coating in chloride environment

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) possess excellent mechanical, thermal, electrical, electrochemical and optical properties. The combination of tungsten disulphide (WS2) and 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) has improved the anticorrosive and mechanical capabilities of poly(p-phenylenediamine) (PpPD) coatings. Scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM/EDX), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and X-Ray diffraction (XRD) techniques were used to characterize the composites such as APTES/CNTs, CNTs/WS2, and APTES/CNTs-WS2. As a result, the dielectric constant of PpPD was raised by 82 times at 102 Hz with the addition of just 0.6% APTES/CNTs-WS2. The APTES/CNTs-WS2 composite demonstrate improved anticorrosive and mechanical performance of the PpPD coating, according to electrochemical methods and mechanical testing. With a water contact angle (WCA) of 157°, this material is highly hydrophobic. Additionally, the PpPD-APTES/CNTs-WS2 was discovered to have significantly stronger resistance (17989 kΩ.cm2) than pure PpPD (101 kΩ.cm2), as well as significantly higher microhardness and tensile strength. The structure of the PpPD-APTES/CNTs-WS2 nanocomposite plays major role in enhancing the mechanical and anticorrosion properties. As a result, the PpPD-APTES/CNTs-WS2 nanocomposite may be used as a covering for solar panel frames.