Effect of various combinations of zirconia and organoclay nanoparticles on mechanical and thermal properties of an epoxy nanocomposite coating

Mechanical properties of nanocomposites containing nano-zirconia slightly increased compared with neat-epoxy coating. Mechanical properties of nanocomposites containing various wt.% of clay or ZrO2/clay nanoparticles slightly decreased; formation of physical barrier clay stacks, which leads to disturbing curing procedure and decreasing polymer cross-linking density, and development of nano-sized voids in the trapped regions by clay stacks. Corrosion performance of nanocomposites increased with addition of nanoparticles, due to improving barrier properties of the coating.