Development of multi-component fluoropolymer based coating on simulated outdoor patina on quaternary bronze

[Display omitted] •A fluoropolymer based coating was developed for aged patina in outdoor conditions.•Patina was aged by exposure to artificial rain.•Fluoropolymer coating has high hydrophobicity, does not change by UV exposure.•Fluoropolymer coating exhibits efficient protection for aged bronze. Bronze reacts with oxygen, humidity, and pollutants in the atmosphere so that a patina forms. Natural exposure to an outdoor atmosphere can be simulated and accelerated in order to achieve a patina that mimics outdoor ancient patina. In order to avoid the uncontrolled dissolving of either the natural or artificially formed patina, protection of the patina is needed. In this study, a multi-component fluoropolymer based coating for the protection of bronze patina was developed. In order to provide various functionalities of the coating (such as the hydrophobicity of the coating surface, obtaining interactions within the coating itself as well as a bronze substrate and inhibiting the corrosion processes), a fluoroacrylate coating with appropriate adhesion promoter was suggested, with and without a silane modified benzotriazole inhibitor. The protective efficiency and durability of the applied coatings were investigated electrochemically using potentiodynamic tests and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy in a simulated acid rain solution. All of the developed coatings showed a significant decrease in the corrosion current density. The self-assembled single layer coating (FA-MS) also showed 100% inhibition efficiency. After ageing the coating remained transparent and did not change by UV exposure and/or thermal cycling. The patina and coating investigations using FIB-SEM and EDX showed that the latter coating (FA-MS) successfully covered the surface of the patinated bronze. The mechanism of the bonding was proposed and supported with the spectroscopic observation of a thin and even coating.