Water diffusion in polymer coatings containing water-trapping particles. Part 2. Experimental verification of the mathematical model

The influence of the water microtraps (cross-linked poly(methacrylic acid) sodium salt spherical particles) with high sorption capacity and low diffusion coefficient on the water penetration through the epoxy coating has been investigated. Water diffusion coefficients for the pure epoxy coating as well as composite coatings with 5% and 3.7% content of water traps have been estimated by attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) and microbalance measurement methods. Experimental results were compared with the mathematical model of diffusion in composite media. The presence of the particles capable of binding water reversibly (water traps) significantly slows down the diffusion rate. Composites with water traps dispersed in the whole volume of the coating and sandwich-structured coatings composed of 3 layers with particles located only inside the middle layer have been examined. The diffusion rate has been found to depend not only on the concentration of the water traps but also on the location of the particles inside the coating. Both kinds of composites exhibit lower diffusion coefficient in comparison with the pure coating, however in the case of the sandwich-structured composites this effect is significantly stronger and much closer to that predicted by the model. Water diffusion coefficient for the sandwich-structured composite with 5% addition of water traps is ca. three times lower than for the pure epoxy coating.

► Water diffusion process in the epoxy composite coatings is investigated.
► The influence of the water trapping particles on the diffusion rate is shown.
► Two types of composite structures with different geometry are examined.
► Obtained composites exhibit lower diffusion coefficient than the pure polymer.