Fabrication of silane-based surface coating with Ag/TiO2 hybridization and its anti-corrosion performance on metal surface

Surface coating technology is an effective anti-corrosion strategy which can form a layer of anti-corrosion film on metal surface, effectively preventing it from oxidation and corrosion. Among various strategies, silanization treatment of metals is the most commonly used one. However, using silane-based coatings alone often leads to poor anti-corrosion performance due to insufficient mechanical strength and presence of surface defects. In order to improve the corrosion resistance of silane coatings, a hybrid surface coating has been constructed by introducing epoxy resin and Ag/TiO2 nanoparticles into the silane film in this work. After adding epoxy resin, the thickness of the silane film greatly increases, which improves its mechanical properties. Ag/TiO2 nanoparticles can enhance the cross-linking between silane molecules and epoxy resin, thereby preventing formation of surface defects. The epoxy resin-silane-Ag/TiO2 composite surface coating is coated on the surface of AA2024 aluminum alloy using spin coating method. Electrochemical and salt spray tests indicate excellent corrosion resistance performance of the composite coating. This composite coating technology may have potential applications on the surfaces of various metal products such as medical devices and aerospace materials, and will shed light on the development of new surface coating technologies.