The Synthesis, Characterization, and Evaluation of a Polypyrrole/ Aluminum Flake Composite Pigment
Abstract
The goal of this study was to synthesize a polypyrrole/aluminum flake composite
pigment to inhibit corrosion on aluminum alloy 2024 T3. This was done in order to
remedy some of the problems associated with the application of pure polypyrrole as a
coating. Namely these problems are insolubility in common solvents, brittleness, poor
adhesion to metal substrates, and catastrophic failure in some conditions due to fast ion
incorporation. By incorporating the polypyrrole composite pigment into an epoxy primer,
the superior mechanical properties of the epoxy binder can be combined with the corrosion
inhibiting properties of the polypyrrole.
Results indicated that the dopant of the polypyrrole played a large role in the
corrosion inhibition of the substrate. While the sulfate doped sample inhibited corrosion in
areas underneath the coating, it did not inhibit corrosion in defect areas. The vanadate
doped and molybdate doped pigments did inhibit corrosion in defect areas.