Abstract
In this paper, graphene oxide (GO) was grafted with sodium tripolyphosphate (STP) to achieve a new anti-corrosive pigment (STG) with homogenous dispersion in waterborne epoxy (EP). The results obtained from Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD) revealed that STP was successfully combined with GO by chemical bonding. The corrosion resistance of EP, GO/EP and STG/EP coatings on carbon steel substrates was investigated via electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and salt spray test. The EIS results showed that the impedance value of coating with 0.7 wt.% STG reached 1.019 × 109 Ω∙cm2, which was considerably higher than that of neat waterborne EP coatings. Salt spray test results revealed once again that STG (0.7 wt.%)/EP coating had superior corrosion resistance. Besides, the STG (0.7 wt.%)/EP coated sample showed the highest adhesion strength between coating and substrate.