Anticorrosion coatings obtained by electrochemical polymerization

The aim of this dossier is to provide an update on current trends in chemically and electrochemically prepared anticorrosion coatings. The strong academic and industrial activity in this field is, in particular, conditioned by new regulations aimed at restricting the use of highly toxic hexavalent chromium-based pretreatments.

This presentation focuses on the formation of films by electrochemical polymerization from monomer precursors in solution. Depending on the nature of the monomers used, this technique leads to insulating or conductive polymer films, which can also be obtained chemically. The discussion will focus on conductive polymers, which are undoubtedly the most promising in terms of anticorrosion protection.

In particular, we will describe the different synthesis strategies and processing parameters that enable us to control the structure of the films, as well as their mode of action with regard to corrosion.

The coatings under consideration can be applied to a wide variety of metal substrates, but we'll focus our discussion on ferrous substrates and aluminum alloys, which are particularly concerned by corrosion risks and new legislation on chromium (VI).

Readers interested in the development of new chromate-free surface treatment technologies may also wish to consult the following dossier by the same author:

• : Inorganic films and protective hybrids obtained by the sol-gel process featured in this database.