UV and corrosion protective behavior of polymer hybrid coating on mild steel

Poly(pyridine‐4‐yl‐methyl)methacrylate‐co‐butyl methacrylate] poly(PyMMA‐co‐BMA)] and its ZnO nanocomposites poly(PyMMA‐co‐BMA)/ZnO] were coated on the mild steel substrate (MS) to improve the corrosion resistance by blocking the destructive ultraviolet radiation (UV‐radiation) and corrosive ions as well. The optical and anticorrosive properties of poly(PyMMA‐co‐BMA) and poly(PyMMA‐co‐BMA)/ZnO (1.0, 1.5, and 2.5 wt %) coatings were evaluated. The surface characterization techniques like UV visible spectroscopy and scanning electron microscope were taken to confirm the formation of poly(PyMMA‐co‐BMA) and poly(PyMMA‐co‐BMA)/ZnO (2.5 wt %) coating on MS. The optical studies revealed that the poly(PyMMA‐co‐BMA)/ZnO (2.5 wt %) coating displays excellent UV blocking properties than other nanocomposite coatings (1.0 and 1.5 wt %). The potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy studies show that the poly(PyMMA‐co‐BMA) and poly(PyMMA‐co‐BMA)/ZnO (1.0, 1.5, and 2.5 wt %) coated MS in 3.5% (w/v) NaCl provides better protection against corrosion. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018 , 135, 46175.