Preparation and anticorrosive performances of polysiloxane-modified epoxy coatings based on polyaminopropylmethylsiloxane-containing amine curing agent

In this article, polysiloxane-modified epoxy coatings were prepared using the mixture (CPSA) of polyaminopropylmethylsiloxane (PAPMS) oligomer/N-(2-hydroxyethyl)ethylenediamine as a curing agent and cardanol as a compatibilizer. The PAPMS oligomer was prepared from the controlled hydrolysis and condensation of (γ-aminopropyl)methyldimethoxysilane. Conventional epoxy coatings based on commercial phenalkamine epoxy curing agent (PECA) were also fabricated for comparison. The compatibility between the CPSA amine curing agent and epoxy resin was investigated by SEM and element-mapping measurements. The anticorrosive performances of the CPSA- or PECA-based epoxy coatings were thoroughly examined by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), salt fog tests, and immersion experiments in acid (25 wt% H₂SO₄), alkali (25 wt% NaOH), and saline (3 wt% NaCl). It was found that cardanol can dramatically improve the miscibility of CPSA with epoxy resins. Polysiloxane-modified (namely, CPSA-based) epoxy coatings have much better corrosion resistance than conventional (namely, PECA-based) epoxy coatings.