Superior Anticorrosion Performance of Well-Dispersed MXene-Polymer Composite Coatings Enabled by Covalent Modification and Ambient Electron-Beam Curing

Abstract

MXene-reinforced composite coatings have recently shown promise for metal anticorrosion due to their large aspect ratio and antipermeability; however, the challenges of the poor dispersion, oxidation, and sedimentation of MXene nanofillers in a resin matrix that are often encountered in the existing curing methods have greatly limited practical applications. Herein, we reported an efficient, ambient, and solvent-free electron beam (EB) curing technology to fabricate PDMS@MXene filled acrylatepolyurethane (APU) coatings for anticorrosion of 2024 Al alloy, a common aerospace structural material. We showed that the dispersion of MXene nanoflakes modified by PDMS-OH was dramatically improved in EB-cured resin and enhanced the water resistance through the additional water-repellent groups of PDMS-OH. Moreover, the controllable irradiation-induced polymerization enabled a unique high-density cross-linked network, presenting a large physical barrier against corrosive media. The newly developed APU-PDMS@MX 1 coatings achieved excellent corrosionresistance with the highest protection efficiency of 99.9957%. The coating filled with uniformly distributed PDMS@MXene promoted the corrosion potential, corrosion current density, and corrosion rate to be −0.14 V, 1.49 × 10 −9 A/cm 2 , and 0.0004 mm/ year, respectively, and the impedance modulus was increased by 1−2 orders of magnitude compared to that of APU-PDMS coating. This work combining 2D material with EB curing technology broadens the avenue for designing and fabricating composite coatings for metal corrosion protection.

Effects of Nanoadditives on the Anticorrosion Performance of Nanocomposite Coatings: A Review

“…Currently, research on MXene anticorrosion is in full swing, and some researchers are trying to promote the industrialization of MXene anticorrosion coatings, such as Zhang et al 134 Their work combines 2D materials with electron-beam curing technology, expanding the avenues for designing and manufacturing metal anticorrosion composite coatings. However, the industrial applicability of MXene may be constrained by its inherent instability.…”

Ti3C2Tx MXene-Polyaniline Nanocomposites for Redesigning Epoxy Coatings to Improve Anticorrosive Performance

“…The synthesis process governs the surface functionalities in M n +1 X n T x . , Moreover, these surface functionalities facilitate the covalent functionalization of MXene for improved stability and surface regulation from hydrophilicity to hydrophobicity . The Ti 3 C 2 T x MXene synthesized by Al etching from the Ti 3 AlC 2 MAX phase in an HF solution exhibits a high surface area, good electrical conductivity, and robust mechanical strength. , The impermeable nature, 2D planner structure, chemical stability, excellent mechanical strength, and high electric conductivity render MXenes attractive candidates for several applications, including protective coatings. , The surface functionalities of MXenes facilitate their dispersion in water, polar solvents, and polymeric matrices. The Ti 3 C 2 T x MXene exhibits a high Young’s modulus (334 GPa) and exceptional electrical conductivity (24,000 S cm –1 ). , Moreover, the synthesis of MXenes by scalable top-down chemical etching of the MAX phase makes them viable materials for industrial-scale production and various applications, such as electromagnetic shielding, supercapacitors, batteries, photocatalytic water splitting, wastewater treatment, structural composites, etc. − …”

“…7,8 The impermeable nature, 2D planner structure, chemical stability, excellent mechanical strength, and high electric conductivity render MXenes attractive candidates for several applications, including protective coatings. 9,10 The surface functionalities of MXenes facilitate their dispersion in water, polar solvents, and polymeric matrices. The Ti 3 C 2 T x MXene exhibits a high Young's modulus (334 GPa) and exceptional electrical conductivity (24,000 S cm −1 ).…”