New Delhi: Scientists at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati have developed a new epoxy-based coating aimed at preventing corrosion in steel structures used in saltwater and high-salinity environments.
Corrosion remains a major challenge for infrastructure such as offshore platforms, port facilities, coastal bridges, and marine pipelines, as prolonged exposure to seawater weakens metal surfaces, reducing structural lifespan and posing environmental and safety risks.
While traditional barrier coatings are commonly used for protection, they can degrade over time, creating microscopic openings that allow salts and moisture to reach and damage the metal below.
To tackle this problem, IIT Guwahati researchers have combined reduced graphene oxide (RGO), zinc oxide (ZnO), and polyaniline (PANI) into a single nanocomposite that can be integrated into epoxy coatings. The material is produced by attaching zinc oxide nanorods to reduced graphene oxide sheets and wrapping them with polyaniline before blending the composite with epoxy.
The resulting coating demonstrated superior performance compared to standard epoxy formulations. Tests showed it forms a more compact protective layer, improves adhesion to steel surfaces, and provides greater resistance to the movement of corrosive agents.
According to the researchers, the material could benefit a wide range of sectors, including marine engineering, shipbuilding, offshore infrastructure, and coastal energy pipelines. Their study is published in Advanced Engineering Materials.
“The incorporation of the RGO-ZnO-PANI nanocomposite into epoxy coating offers a promising strategy for achieving long-term corrosion resistance in harsh marine environments,” said project lead Prof. Chandan Das. He added that the next phase will focus on long-term durability testing and real-world performance evaluation.
The team emphasised that the findings remain at the laboratory stage, with further validation required before the technology can be considered for commercial deployment.
