A new study, focused on highly dispersed graphene oxide–zinc oxide nano-hybrids in epoxy coating to give improved water barrier properties and corrosion resistance, has been published recently.
The study introduces a novel approach of using the stable surface property of zinc oxide (ZnO) to facilitate the dispersion of graphene oxide sheets in an epoxy coating. Graphene oxide-ZnO nano-hybrids were successfully formed and demonstrated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses. They were found to be well dispersed in an epoxy matrix with no significant agglomeration, verified by field emission scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Based on these investigations and testing, the well-dispersed nano-hybrids in the epoxy coatings had effectively improved water barrier properties, as well as adhesion and corrosion protection, in comparison with neat epoxy (EP) and simple graphene oxide–epoxy coatings.
The study was published in Journal of Coatings Technology and Research, January 2020, Volume 17, Issue 1.