Effect of silane-modified SiO₂@Ce³⁺ nanoparticles on the mechanical property and anti-corrosion for steel of the epoxy coating

In this work, nano-SiO2 have been used as nanocarriers for loading Ce(III) ions (SiO2@Ce3+). After loading, silane coupling agent has been used to modify these nanocarriers (m-SiO2@Ce3+). Then, these modified nanocarriers were added as green inhibitors into the inner epoxy coating matrix, which was based on the epoxy resin (DER 671X75) and hardener (polyamide Epicure 3125). Morphological study by FE-SEM showed that the spherical nanoparticles (m-SiO2@Ce3+) were in size < 100 nm and dispersed rather homogeneously into the polyme matrix. In addition, the addition of nanocarriers at a concentration of 2.5 wt.% into the epoxy polymer matrix enhanced significantly its mechanical property. Besides, the anticorrosion performance of the epoxy polymer matrix due to the presence of m-SiO2@Ce3+ (at 2.5 wt. %) was proved by EIS analysis and salt spray tests.