Physical Properties of Low Carbon Steel Coated with Iraqi Clay-Reinforced Epoxy Composites

Abstract

Coatings with polymeric composite materials are one of the most used methods in recent times among other methods, to provide a physical barrier that prevents the metal from direct contact with the environment, Examples of this are epoxy/clay composites because they have excellent chemical resistance, high adhesion to the substrate In this research, polymeric composites reinforcement by local clays were prepared as insulating coatings for chemical corrosion. using a low carbon steel alloy coated with materials consisting of epoxy as a  matrix material and reinforcement  by clay particles (MK and M) by weight percentage of 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 wt.%. The result of the mechanical properties tests of the composite epoxy coating in the microhardness was (160.38 MPa) at a ratio of 8 wt.%. Also, the wear rate and corrosion decreased at 6 wt.%. The adhesion strength improved after reinforcement of the epoxy coating with particles, and its highest value was 2.26165 MPa at 4 wt.% for (M-epoxy) composite coating.