Author
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Finkenstadt, Victoria |
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Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only Publication Acceptance Date: 8/6/2014 Publication Date: 10/16/2014 Citation: Finkenstadt, V.L. 2014. Biobased polymers for corrosion protection of metals [abstract]. Bio-Environmental Polymer Society (BEPS 2014) Conference. p. 19. Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: Anticorrosive biobased polymers were developed in our lab. We isolated an exopolysaccharide produced by a microbe that, when coated on metal substrates, exhibited unique corrosion inhibition. Corrosion is a worldwide problem and impacts the economy, jeopardizes human health and safety, and impedes technology. Basically, corrosion is the result of chemical reactions occurring on the surface of a metal. In most environments, metal tends to corrode and, in fact, favors corrosion. Corrosion is thought to occur by simultaneous oxidation and reduction reactions taking place on the surface. We found that only specific exopolysaccharides inhibited corrosion while other similar structured polymers actually increased the corrosive process. Once isolated and purified from the cell free culture, the EPS is dispersed in water and then sprayed onto metal substrates in nanoscale thicknesses (50-200 nm). We evaluated the adhesion of the coating for the substrate, film building, and diffusion processes through the coatings. One of the most unique aspects of the anticorrosive biobased polymer is that the coating is fully hydrated in less than 3 minutes and still retains its anti-corrosive behavior. |
