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Nanoclay has proven to be an active anti-corrosive additive due to the self-repairing effect from nanoclay swelling and expansion, except for its passive barrier effect due to the high aspect ratio. But it is still uncertain how these effects of nanoclay are intertwined with the other components in a complex coating system in corrosive environments. In this study, we examined the combined effects of nanoclays of two particle sizes with a commonly used cost-reducing filler, BaSO4. By employing neutral salt spray tests, electrochemical analysis, and surface characterization, we identified the optimal conditions for achieving a strong barrier effect. Surprisingly, a relatively low nanoclay dosage of 2% combined with BaSO4 filler exhibited synergistic behavior. Nanoclay not only compensated for the reduction in the barrier effect owing to the addition of BaSO4 by offering self-repairing and barrier effects, but also overcame the delamination issues observed at higher nanoclay dosages (4% and above). The coating panel with 2% larger nanoclay and BaSO4 showed two orders of magnitude higher pore resistance than the coating without nanoclay, remaining at 107 Ω∙cm2 after 25 days of immersion. As a result, this coating panel demonstrated significantly slower corrosion expansion and reached a lifetime of 2500 h when creepage exceeded 2 mm in salt spray tests. This study contributes to a full understanding and proper utilization of nanoclay for high-performance, smart anti-corrosive coatings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Powder coatings are a promising, solvent-free alternative to traditional liquid coatings due to the superior corrosion protection they provide. This study investigates the effects of incorporating montmorillonite-based nanoclay additives with different particle sizes into polyester/triglycidyl isocyanurate (polyester/TGIC) powder coatings. The objective is to enhance the corrosion-protective function of the coatings while addressing the limitations of commonly employed epoxy-based coating systems that exhibit inferior UV resistance. The anti-corrosive and surface qualities of the coatings were evaluated via neutral salt spray tests, electrochemical measurements, and surface analytical techniques. Results show that the nanoclay with a larger particle size of 18.38 µm (D50, V) exhibits a better barrier effect at a lower dosage of 4%, while a high dosage leads to severe defects in the coating film. Interestingly, the coating capacitance is found, via electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, to decrease during the immersion test, indicating a self-repairing capability of the nanoclay, arising from its swelling and expansion. Neutral salt spray tests suggest an optimal nanoclay dosage of 2%, with the smaller particle size (8.64 µm, D50, V) nanoclay providing protection for 1.5 times as many salt spray hours as the nanoclay with a larger particle size. Overall, incorporating montmorillonite-based nanoclay additives is suggested to be a cost-effective approach for significantly enhancing the anti-corrosive function of powder coatings, expanding their application to outdoor environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]