News Coatings Technologies
Neutralised Nafion enhances corrosion resistance in epoxy coatings
A research team from Malaysia and Spain has investigated the corrosion protection performance of epoxy coatings containing protonated and sodiated Nafion. The study reveals that the neutralised, sodium-based form significantly improves steel protection.
Researchers have explored the anticorrosive performance of epoxy coatings modified with either protonated (HNE) or sodiated (NaNE) Nafion on mild steel substrates. The study, conducted using FTIR, XRD, and EIS methods, confirms that only NaNE provides consistent and durable protection in chloride-rich environments. While both variants displayed some chloride repulsion, uniform corrosion occurred in the HNE-coated samples.
NaNE-based coatings containing 2 wt% Nafion achieved the highest protection efficiency at 99.9 %, according to EIS measurements. The improved performance is attributed to the neutralised nature of the additive, reducing acidity and enhancing matrix stability.
Reading tip: Epoxy resins
Due to their outstanding properties, epoxy resins are more widely used in the coating industry than almost any other class of binder. In their new reference book “Epoxy Resins“, the authors Dornbusch, Christ and Rasing explain the basics of the chemistry of the epoxy group and use specific formulations to explain the use of epoxy and phenoxy resins in industrial coatings – including corrosion protection, floor coatings, powder coatings and internal can coatings.
Mechanism and implications
The study proposes a corrosion protection mechanism in which NaNE acts both as a physical barrier and an ion-repellent layer. The findings suggest potential for further use of functionalised polymers in high-performance anticorrosive coatings.
Source: Progress in Organic Coatings, Volume 207, October 2025, 109347.
