A recent research proves that the integration of benzoxazine-functionalised silanes into tetraethoxysilane-based sol-gel coatings leads to a significant increase in hydrophobic stability and corrosion resistance, as demonstrated by a variety of characterisation methods including water contact angle measurements and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.

Illustration of a nanoparticle-enhanced functional coating system that improves the corrosion resistance and performance of surfaces. Source: Adobe.Stock

A series of sol–gel coatings based on tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) was adopted in order to provide corrosion protection for aluminum alloys AA1060, which were modified by incorporating various ratios of silane-functionalized benzoxazine (Bz), labeled as Bz-based sol–gel coatings. Fourier transform infrared spectra were utilized to characterize the crosslinking network of Bz-based sol–gel coatings through calculating the conversion of Bz structure after the curing process, which was also further confirmed by the gel content test. Both hydrophobicity and corrosion resistance of Bz-based sol–gel coatings were fully investigated with the assistance of water contact angle (WCA) measurements, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and salt spray test.

Bz incorporation could improve hydrophobic stability and corrosion resistance of Bz-based sol–gel coatings with increasing the Bz content during the 30-day immersion in a 3.5 wt% NaCl aqueous solution. Better performance of Bz-based sol–gel coatings than that of a control TEOS coating with a WCA above 93° and a charge-transfer resistance over 100 kΩ cm2 after 30-day EIS meas