Synthesis of Polypyrrole/CeO2 Nanocomposite and its Application for Improving the Corrosion Protection of Acrylic Waterborne Coating on Mild Steel

Abstract

In this work, polypyrrole/CeO2 nanocomposite (NC) was synthesized in the presence of methyl<br />orange as a reactive self-degraded soft template. The field emission scanning electron microscopy<br />(FESEM) images indicate that the CeO2 NPs have a nucleus effect and cause a homogenous PPy<br />core–shell type morphology with an encapsulation of the CeO2 core by the PPy shell. The effect of<br />NC on acrylic waterborne coatings for preventing the corrosion of mild steel in 0.50 M HCl solution<br />was evaluated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The choice of waterborne coatings<br />was made on the basis of environment and human health considerations. The electrochemical<br />impedance data obtained from both blank and coating with polypyrrole/CeO2 nanocomposite samples<br />were ?tted with an equivalent circuit containing two time constants. The protection ef?ciency (PE)<br />was measured from EIS method. According to the obtained PE values the coating with<br />nanocomposite demonstrated higher corrosion resistance compared to blank coating.