Effect of graphene on mechanical and anti-corrosion properties of TiO2-SiO2 sol-gel coating

Purpose This paper aims to explore how graphene can improve the mechanical and anti-corrosion properties of TiO2-SiO2 sol-gel coating. This sol-gel coating has been prepared on aluminum alloy substrate using graphene as both nano-filler and corrosion inhibitor. Design/methodology/approach To examine the effect of graphene on mechanical properties of sol-gel coating, the abrasion resistance, adhesion strength and scratch resistance of coating have been evaluated. To reveal the effect of graphene on the anti-corrosion property of coating for aluminum alloy, the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) has been conducted in 3.5 Wt.% NaCl medium. Findings Scanning electron microscopy images indicate that graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) have been homogeneously dispersed into the sol-gel coating matrices (at the contents from 0.1 to 0.5 Wt.%). Mechanical tests of coatings indicate that the graphene content of 0.5 Wt.% provides highest values of adhesion strength (1.48 MPa), scratch resistance (850 N) and abrasion strength (812 L./mil.) for the sol-gel coating. The EIS data show that the higher content of GNPs improve both R1 (coating) and R2 (coating/Al interface) resistances. In addition to enhancing the coating barrier performance (graphene acts as nanofiller/nano-reinforcer for coating matrix), other mechanism can be at work to account for the role of the graphene inhibitor in improving the anticorrosive performance at the coating/Al interface. Originality/value Application of graphene-based sol-gel coating for protection of aluminum and its alloy is very promising.