ZIF-12 Nano-porous frameworks for designing double stimuli-responsive smart anticorrosion coating inherited superior mechanical properties; experimental and modeling studies

Designing multifunctional anti-corrosion systems aided by smart nanofillers to induce self-healing capability is one of the most exciting challenges in corrosion studies. Among all of the proposed nano-materials, Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have emerged as brand-new nano-sized hybrid candidates with excellent mechanical properties and potential characteristics to improve the anti-corrosion action. The present work proposed a new member of the zeolite imidazole-shaped MOFs, ZIF-12, a prosperous filler for designing epoxy-based smart polymeric coating (EP) with conveying superior mechanical properties. According to the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) outcomes, the scratched EP coating total resistance is increased to 110,655 Ω.cm2 and the intact composite coating resistance demonstrated 10.10 GΩ.cm2 upon incorporation of ZIF-12 MOF filler. Also, the cathodic disbonding, as well as pull-off test, clarified that ZIF-12 MOF is responsible for a 13 mm decrease in delamination diameter with a 27 % reduction in adhesion loss. According to the conducted mechanical tests, the dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) findings affirmed that the ZIF-12 nanoparticles promoted the EP cross-linking density and storage modulus to 4126 mol/m3 and 1233 MPa, respectively, while the tensile test outcomes demonstrated that the designed composite energy at break was raised to 67 J.