Evaluation of Low-Cost Graphene Oxide Coatings against Marine Corrosion

Corrosion mitigation is a critical problem for marine infrastructure, and nanoscale composite coatings are widely researched for their chemical and physical stability. Graphene Oxide (GO) membranes perform well in both regards, but their use is hampered by macro-scale imperfections and difficulty of application. In this experiment, a 4wt% GO and 3wt% polyvinyl alcohol solution was applied to the surface of metal samples through multiple low-cost methods. These samples were then placed in an accelerated corrosion chamber to simulate the marine environment, which will allow approximation of the efficacy of the different methods and provide recommendations for further study. Once oxidized, these samples were then examined in three ways to quantify their potential for corrosion prevention: with visual area inspection and microscopy, electric impedance, and angle testing for hydrophobicity. These results highlight the impact of corrosion prevention coating materials and application methods, which will be important for future anticorrosive coating development.