Expression of the transportation of corrosive media into epoxy coating using nano-indentation

Nano-hardness (H_nano) and nano-elastic modulus (E_nano) of corroded coating surface layer were investigated using nano-indentation after epoxy coated specimens were immersed in 5% NaCl solution. The penetration depths (d) of corrosive media into epoxy coating were calculated fitting the curves of (H/E)_nano vs. indentation depth (h). EIS spectra of epoxy coated specimens immersed in 5% NaCl solution for different time were measured. Finally the relationship of capacitance (C_f,T) of corroded epoxy coating with the penetration depth of corrosive media was studied. The experimental results showed that the transportation process of corrosive media into epoxy coating was studied through the profiles of (H/E)_nano with indentation depth. The penetration depth of corrosive media into the epoxy coating increases rapidly with immersed time firstly, and then increases slowly. The capacitance of corroded epoxy coating has a linear function relationship with the penetration depth of corrosive media into epoxy coating. Nano-indentation can be used to study the transportation process of corrosive media into organic coating.