Corrosion Protection Performance via Nano-Coatings Technologies

Corrosion usually takes place and degrades material surfaces based on environmental chemistry. There are several popular ways of decreasing corrosion rates to improve the lifetime of materials and devices. The application of nanotechnology in the corrosion protection of metals has recently gained momentum. As recently determined, some methods may incorporate nanostructured materials processing approaches. These include surface treatment methods, nanocomposite thin film coatings, top layer coatings and thermal barrier coatings. A polymer nano-coating can effectively combine the benefits of organic polymers, such as elasticity and water resistance, to that of advanced inorganic materials, such as hardness and permeability. Environmental impact can also be improved by utilizing nanostructure particulates in coatings and eliminating the requirement of toxic solvents. Nano-coatings have also proven to be effective alternative to chromate treatment of metallic substrate, which is hazardous due to the presence of toxic hexavalent chromium. This article provides a clear picture of patents on the technologies currently available with a special emphasis on nanocoatings and reports some of the preliminary investigations on the corrosion-resistance performance of nanocoatings and their applications.