Effect of graphene oxide loading on the performance of melanized corn oil based polymeric nanocomposite coatings

Abstract In this work, melanized corn oil (CO)‐based polymer was synthesized and was further engineered using three different ratios of graphene oxide (GO). The polymer nanocomposite thus formed was evaluated using various standard techniques to check the efficacy of GO nanosheets on the overall coating performance. Fourier transform infrared and x‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy techniques helped in structural elucidation of the prepared resins. The thermal stability of melanized CO based dihydroxy compound (CmDHC) was found to enhance up to 315°C on the incorporation of 0.5 wt% GO nanosheets. Furthermore, the scanning electron microscopy results revealed that incorporation of GO improved the surface roughness of CmDHC@GO2 nanocomposite coatings. This amplified surface roughness resulted in increased hydrophobicity with contact angle value of 78° as well as excellent corrosion resistance of 29.5 × 10⁶ Ω cm². The overall results suggest that dispersion of GO nanosheets into the polymer matrix helped to improve the mechanical, thermal as well as corrosion resistance performance of these coatings and 0.5 wt% was the optimum amount required for the same. Highlights GO nanosheets were dispersed in melanized CO‐based polymer matrix. Incorporation of GO nanoparticles in CmDHC polymer matrix enhanced the coating resistance almost 30 times. GO inhibited the corrosive ions effectively that resulted in excellent corrosion resistive performance. 0.5 wt% GO was the optimum amount to produce torturous path for corrosive ions. Overall CmDHC@GO2 nanocomposite exhibited excellent coating performance.