Investigation and improvement of abrasion resistance, water vapor barrier and anticorrosion properties of mixed clay epoxy nanocomposite coating

Mixture of two different alkyl quaternary ammonium modified clay nanoparticles (aq-CNPs) viz. sepiolite and smectite were used to prepare epoxy/mix-clay nanocomposite coating in various concentrations (0-10%). The combined effect of aq-CNPs has been studied for the first time to understand various coating properties. The water vapor transmission (WVT) barrier, abrasion resistance (Taber) and anticorrosion (salt spray) properties were found improving with increase in the aq-CNPs concentration in epoxy matrix. The morphological (SEM), thermal (DSC), spectroscopic (FTIR), pH and rheological (Brookfield viscosity) studies were done to investigate the insight of properties of epoxy/mix-clay nanocomposite coatings.