A curcumin quantum dot blended polyacrylonitrile electrospun nanofiber coating on 316 L SS for improved corrosion resistance in the marine environment

Abstract

Corrosion of 316 L SS is a significant global concern and recently polymeric nanofibers have been gaining attention for their potential in enhancing the corrosion resistance of metals. In this work, an electrospinning technique was deployed for the deposition of a curcumin quantum dot (CMQD) blended polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofibrous anticorrosive coating on 316 L SS. The optimized PAN-CMQD coated samples obtained from the weight loss studies were examined to assess their corrosion inhibition characteristics in 3.5 wt% NaCl electrolyte as the corrosion environment using potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The PAN-CMQD coated samples showed two-order reduction in I_corr compared to the uncoated 316 L SS. The results of the long-term analysis for 30 days revealed no significant changes in I_corr and E_corr values and no pit formation for PAN-CMQD coated samples, proving the longevity of the coating. Thus, this work will serve as a cost-effective futuristic strategy for the large-scale development of anticorrosive nanofibrous coatings for enhancing the corrosion resistance behavior of metals and alloys in various industrial sectors.