[nanoPost] Nano coatings for corrosion resistance, adhesion enhancement and wear resistance

Corrosion and fouling is an interfacial process and one of the main ways of influencing this process is by applying a surface treatment to the metal, and provided the surface modification is of the nanoscale, then these processes may be defined as nanotechnology. Research in the Corrosion and Protection Centre has for many years concentrated on a variety of coating methods using differing starting materials and coating techniques.

·     Nano coatings have been produced specifically using electrochemical methods including electropolymerisation to produce functionalized nano layers for corrosion resistance, adhesion enhancement and wear resistance;

·     Electrophoretic deposition to generate nano prepolymers on metal surfaces;

·     pH induced precipitation reactions for the production of wear resistant films.

The centre is also involved in research in the more conventional nanotechnology areas including:

·     the incorporation of clays and other nanoparticles into coatings for improved performance

·     sol gel methods, for example, the production of nano titania films onto  iron alloys for improved corrosion resistance

·     nano encapsulation of corrosion inhibitors

·     LB films, mono/multi layer chemical adsorption

·     atmospheric plasma studies for surface cleaning and functionalized coating deposition and development

·     Surface modification by organo metallic moieties and the production of low energy surfaces.