Revolutionizing corrosion protection in seawater using innovative layered double hydroxide/polyvinylidene fluoride LDH@PVDF composite coatings

This study pioneers a novel approach to achieving sustainable corrosion protection in seawater environments by incorporating layered double hydroxide (LDH) fillers into polymeric polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) coatings to create a corrosion-resistant coating for mild steel. LDH composites were successfully synthesized using co-precipitation and hydrothermal methods, with characterization through x-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy FTIR, morphological analysis, and elemental mapping. LDH@PVDF coatings with the thickness of 40 ± 2 µm exhibited improved surface properties, superior adhesion, hydrophobicity, and antifouling characteristics. Corrosion resistance was comprehensively assessed using open circuit potential (OCP), potentiodynamic polarization (PDP), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). ZLDH@PVDF coating outperformed others, demonstrating exceptional long-term corrosion protection (up to 60 days) without diffusion-controlled processes. The mechanism of corrosion protection of ZLDH@PVDF coating has been discussed.