Nanomechanical performance of protective coatings reinforced with core/shell composite materials

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to focus on the investigation of nanomechanical behavior of new types of metal alloys protective coatings. For this purpose, poly(n-butylacrylate) was synthesized via activators regenerated by electron transfer-atom transfer radical polymerization and mixed with epoxy resins, and microcomposites.

Design/methodology/approach

Multi-layered coatings were applied on hot dip galvanized steel via a baker film applicator. Every layer containing the aforementioned copolymer differs in the proportion of the epoxy resin resulting in the production of a coating with a gradient from hard to soft from the substrate to the top. Nanomechanical performance is accessed via nanoindentation, providing information for structural and mechanical integrity, adhesion and resistance to wear.

Findings

The results reveal that through trajection of hardness mapping, the resistance is divided in three regions, namely, the polymer (matrix), interface (region close to/between spheres-shells) and spheres-shell regions.

Originality/value

The structural analysis, adhesion and mechanical integrity of the coatings are clearly demonstrated.

Citation

Koumoulos, E.P., Dragatogiannis, D.A., Kartsonakis, I.A., Karaxi, E., Kehagias, T. and Charitidis, C.A. (2016), "Nanomechanical performance of protective coatings reinforced with core/shell composite materials", International Journal of Structural Integrity, Vol. 7 No. 5, pp. 671-689. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSI-10-2015-0051