Comparison of corrosion protection of chemically and electrochemically synthesized poly(N-vinylcarbazole) and its nanocomposites on stainless steel

Strong adherent electroactive polymer films of poly(vinylcarbazole) (PVCz) and its nanocomposites with P(VCz)/nanoclay and P(VCz)/Zn nanoparticle have been electrodeposited on stainless steel (SS304) by chronoamperometric method using 0.3 M oxalic acid/butanol solution. The corrosion protection performance of P(VCz), P(VCz)/nanoclay, and P(VCz)/Zn nanoparticle coating on stainless steel (SS304) was assessed in 3.5 % NaCl using potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopic (EIS) techniques. Open circuit potential (OCP) and polarization measurements have been shown that the SS304 coated with P(VCz), P(VCz)/nanoclay, and P(VCz)/nanoZn maintain the potential in the passive state whereas the uncoated SS304 exhibits potentials in the active state. The corrosion tests indicated that P(VCz), P(VCz)/nanoclay, and P(VCz)/nanoZn exhibited effective anodic protection in a corrosive test solution. Results show that chemically synthesized P(VCz), P(VCz)/nanoclay, and P(VCz)/nanoZn have higher corrosion performance (PE = 99.56, 98.10, and 98.97 %) than electrochemically synthesized films (PE = 94.87, 96.75, and 96.13 %). In addition, the highest protection efficiency was obtained as 99.56 % for chemically synthesized P(VCz) films. The protection efficiencies were calculated from corrosion currents obtained by Tafel extrapolation from polarization curves.Scientific and Technological Council of Turkey (TUBITAK)Turkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu (TUBITAK) [112T680]The author thank Serhat Tikiz (Afyon Kocatepe Univ., TUAM, Afyon, Turkey) for SEM-EDX measurements and Dr. Argun Gokceoren (ITU, Istanbul, Turkey) for FTIR-ATR measurements. The financial support from The Scientific and Technological Council of Turkey (TUBITAK), project number: 112T680 is gratefully acknowledged