Desenvolvimento e caracterização de uma tinta em pó base poliéster contendo montmorilonita funcionalizada com silano

Abstract

Among the methods used for corrosion protection of metal materials the organics coatings have been widely used due to their ease of application and reasonable costs. The barrier property of the organic coatings can be improved by incorporation of appropriate fillers such as nanofillers that even in low concentrations show superior barrier properties to conventional fillers. The montmorillonite (MMT) is the inorganic phase more used to prepare polymer nanocomposites. To improve the compatibility and dispersion of the clay in a polymer resin, many researchers have performed the functionalization process of the clay using silane. This study aims to develop and characterize a polyester based powder coating containing different amounts of sodium montmorillonite (MMT-Na+) modified with the silane 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (γ-APS). The clay modified with silane (S-MMT) or MMT-Na+ clay were incorporated into a standard commercial formulation of a polyester based powder coating on the ratios of 2, 4 and 8 wt%. The incorporation of clay into the paint was in the molten state (extrusion). The clays, the powder coating and coating after curing were analyzed using different characterization techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and optical microscopy (MO). The powder coatings were applied on carbon steel panels by electrostatic method. The effect of incorporating different amounts of modified and unmodified clay on the physical properties and corrosion protection of the coatings obtained were evaluated using techniques such as gloss measurement, adhesion, flexibility, impact resistance, open circuit potential (OCP), immersion and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) in sodium chloride solution and exposure to salt spray. XRD results confirmed the modification and intercalation of a bilayer of aminopropyl molecules in the interlayer spacing of the clay. By thermal analysis the S-MMT clay showed greater loss greater than the MMT-Na+ clay due to the presence of silane in their structure. The MMT-Na+ are presented in the form of large irregular agglomerates that have become smaller and thinner after its modification with silane. In the coatings obtained by incorporating different concentrations of MMT-Na+ or S-MMT it was not detected the exfoliation of clay, characterizing a microcomposite. Through of the thermal characterization of the powder paint it was found that the coatings containing S-MMT clay showed lower thermal stability than other coatings due to the presence of the organic modifier. The presence of MMT-Na+ or S-MMT clay (except 4 wt% of S-MMT clay) reduced the energy released in the process of crosslinking. The surface hardness of the coating was increased and the brightness was decreased with increasing clay content and this effect was most pronounced with the addition of 8 wt% of MMT-Na+. The adhesion of the coating to the substrate and the flexibility of the coating were not changed by the presence of clay, but the clay coatings containing S-MMT showed better results than coatings containing MMT-Na+ regarding the impact resistance. Both electrochemical and exposure to salt spray tests the silane modified clay resulted in coatings with better corrosion performance than those coatings containing the unmodified clay. However, the corrosion protection of the coatings containing montmorillonite was not superior to the coating free of clay.