Applied Surface Science, Vol.437, 152-160, 2018
Microstructure and corrosion resistance of a fluorosilane modified silane-graphene film on 2024 aluminum alloy
Heptadecafluorodecyl trimethoxysilane (FAS-17) was incorporated into gamma-(2,3-epoxypropoxy) propyltrimethoxysilane/graphene (GPTMS/rGO) by adding pre-hydrolyzed FAS-17 solution in GPTMS solution, and a hybrid silane-graphene film (FG/rGO) was prepared on 2024 aluminum alloy surface. The FG/rGO film showed better thermal shock resistance, good adhesion force and high micro-hardness, compared with GPTMS/rGO film. In neutral 3.5 wt% NaCl solution, the corrosion current density for 2024 AA sample with FG/rGO film was 3.40 x 10(-3) mu A/cm(2), which is about one fifth of that for the sample with GPTMS/rGO film. In acidic and alkaline NaCl solutions, the FG/rGO film also showed obviously better corrosion resistance than GPTMS/rGO film. EIS results confirm that the FG/rGO film showed longer performance than GPTMS/rGO film for 2024 AA in NaCl solution. The hydrophobic FAS-17 increased water contact angle of the film surface from 68 degrees to 113 degrees, and changed the stacking structure of graphene in the film. The higher crosslink degree and less interfaces promoted the barrier property of FG/rGO film against aggressive ions and prolonged the performance time in NaCl solution. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.