Synthesis, corrosion and structural characterization of kenaf nanocellulose on Zn–ZnO-Cn electrolytic coatings of mild steel for advanced applications

Abstract

Combating the menace of corrosion attack in pipeline is a significant source of expenditure for most oil and gas industries. Mild steel is the most utilized steel employed in producing oil pipelines as a result of their availability, machinability, and cost. This research aimed to develop ternary zinc-zinc oxide-nanocellulose (Zn-ZnO-Cn) coatings on mild steel substrates for improved structural and corrosion resistance in acidic media by electrodeposition method. Potentiodynamic polarization was used to determine the corrosion resistance properties of the coating. The surface morphologies were determined by scanning electron microscopy equipped with energy dispersive spectroscopy, and x-ray diffractometer. The results showed that all the developed composite coatings recorded lower corrosion rate values than that of the substrate (mild steel) sample, whose value was 5.3243 mm/yr. Sample C8 (Zn-20gZnO-20gCn) had the lowest corrosion rate value of 0.1682 mm/yr and this corresponded to a coating protection efficiency of 96% on the substrate. Also, sample B1 (Zn-20gZnO-0gCn), among the developed coatings, gave the highest corrosion rate value of 1.8435 mm/yr with a protection efficiency of 66%. The combined properties of the coating materials were able to form protective barriers on the substrate in the corrosive media.

Keywords

• Materials
• Composite
• Coatings
• Corrosion
• Kenaf nanocellulose