Corrosion prevention of AA2024-T3 aluminum alloy with a polyaniline/poly(γ-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane) bi-layer coating: Comparative study with polyaniline mono-layer feature

Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared Attenuated Total Reflectance (FTIR-ATR) and Ultraviolet-Visible spectrophotometry (UV-Vis) proved the successful synthesis of coatings. For Pani/Poly(γ-GPTMS), formation of hydrogen bonds between layers was proved. Poly(γ-GPTMS) layer has filled defects of Pani network, where metallo-siloxane bonds, were established. Pani/Poly(γ-GPTMS) coating revealed better adhesion, water repellency and anticorrosion performance than Pani. Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) demonstrated that the Poly(γ-GPTMS) layer served as an effective physical barrier top-coat against the penetration of corrosive species through the Pani layer. Poly(γ-GPTMS) improved hence, the anticorrosion performance of coating system for a longer exposure period in chloride medium.