Photocatalytic, corrosion protection and adhesion properties of acrylic nanocomposite coating containing silane treated nano zinc oxide: A combined experimental and simulation study

The influence of silane treated nano zinc oxide (nZnO) on the protection, photocatalytic properties and interfacial interactions in acrylic/carbon steel systems was investigated. For this purpose, nZnO particles have been synthesized using microwave irradiation method. The morphology of synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The nZnO were treated by 3(2-amino ethyl amino) propyl trimethoxysilane. Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and thermogravimetry (TGA) techniques have been used to prove success of nZnO surface modification. In the next step, nanocomposites were prepared and coated on carbon steel by dip-coating method. Corrosion resistances of coatings were evaluated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) has been carried out to study morphology of cross section of films. Moreover, to study the hydrophillicity and photocatalytic properties of coating surface, contact angle of the nanocomposites coating surface have been measured. Finally interfacial adhesion and their mechanisms have been studied by molecular dynamics (MD) and first principle quantum mechanics (QM) simulation method.