Effects of activated ceria and zirconia nanoparticles on the protective behaviour of silane coatings in chloride solutions

This work investigates the effect of CeO2 and ZrO2 nanoparticles on the corrosion protection performance of non-inhibited and cerium inhibited silane coatings in 3.5% and 5% NaCl solutions on electro-galvanized steel substrates. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) results show relatively uniform coating thickness and varying nanoparticle distribution depending on coating composition. The corrosion behaviour of the sol–gel coatings revealed that CeO2-ZrO2 nanoparticles reinforce the barrier properties of the silane films and seem to act as nano-reservoirs providing a prolonged release of cerium ions. This prolonged release of inhibitor from oxide nanoreservoirs confers longer protection to the metallic substrate