Development of corrosion-resistant epoxy coating by hydrophobically surface-modified halloysite nanotubes using trimethylchlorosilane and 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexamethyldisilazane

Herein, surface modification of halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) was conducted to enhance hydrophobicity via piranha etching and treatment with trimethylchlorosilane (TMCS) and 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS). The surface-modified HNTs (m-HNTs) were added to the epoxy coating, and the corrosion protection performance was evaluated in terms of the mixing ratio. The m-HNTs were characterized by Fourier transform IR spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and field emission transmission electron spectroscopy. The addition of m-HNTs to the epoxy coating led to an improvement in its barrier and adhesion properties. In addition, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was conducted to evaluate the corrosion protection performance of the epoxy coating with different mixing ratios. Corrosion protection performance was successfully improved by an increase in m-HNTs. The results were in accordance with those of the barrier and adhesion properties.