Performance evaluation of polyaniline pigmented epoxy coating for corrosion protection of steel in concrete environment

Corrosion protection of mild steel reinforcement offered by a newly developed epoxy based coating system containing inherently conducting polyaniline as one of the pigments has been studied. The synthesis of polyaniline and preparation of epoxy based coating system containing this polyaniline are described here. The corrosion resistant property of epoxy polyaniline system, coated on mild steel was evaluated by various techniques such as electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, potential time studies, cathodic disbondment test, anodic polarization study, salt spray test and chemical resistance test. The corrosion resistance of epoxy polyaniline coating system coated on reinforcement bars embedded in concrete was also studied by an accelerated time to cracking study. The formation of polyaniline was characterized using FTIR, UV, GPC, particle size analyzer and fineness studies. Electrochemical impedance studies reveal that the resistance of the coating decreased initially and then increased due to passivating ability of the polyaniline pigment. Based on the results of different techniques, it is found that epoxy coating with polyaniline pigment is effective in corrosion protection of steel in concrete environment.