Silane functionalized plasma-treated boron nitride nanosheets for anticorrosive reinforcement of waterborne epoxy coatings

Boron nitride nanosheets (BNNSs) are a two-dimensional material with electrical insulation, thermal conductivity and excellent barrier properties, but they are easy to agglomerate and not easy to modify. To solve this problem, the OH-functionalized BNNSs were prepared in high yield (80.1%) by plasma treatment on the surface of boron nitride, and then was further silylated with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) via the reaction of Si-O-H with -OH. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) proved that APTES successfully modified the surface of BNNSs through covalent bonding. The obtained BNNSs@APTES exhibited good compatibility with waterborne epoxy (WEP) resins. In addition, BNNSs@APTES/WEP composite coatings were applied on carbon steel, and their anticorrosion performance was investigated using electrochemical measurements. Results demonstrated that the incorporation of 0.8 wt% BNNSs@APTES significantly enhanced the corrosion resistance of WEP coatings via the improved barrier property. [Display omitted] •The hydroxyl-functionalized BNNSs was efficiently prepared by plasma treatment in a high yield (80.1%)•The BNNSs@APTES were obtained by silane functionalized plasma-treated boron nitride nanosheets.•The anticorrosion mechanisms of waterborne epoxy composite coatings reinforced by BNNSs@APTES were analyzed.