Anticorrosive performance of waterborne epoxy coatings containing attapulgite/graphene nanocomposites

Graphene is extensively considered to be highly promising in the optimizing of the anticorrosive properties of organic coatings. However, the poor hydrophilicity of graphene impedes its application in waterborne coatings. In this work, attapulgite-graphene (ATP-G) nanocomposites were synthesized through a simple method. Graphene was well bonded with ATP via hydrogen bond interaction, thus improving its compatibility with water obviously. Susequently the ATP-G nanocomposites was incorporated into waterborne epoxy coating. It is indicated from the electrochemical measurement that the ATP-G nanocomposite could significantly improve the long-term anticorrosive property of waterborne epoxy coating, which was attributed to synergistic action of ATP nanofibers and graphene nanosheets on the barring for the penetration of water, O-2 and corrosive ions.