Preparation of TiO2-SiO2Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Coating Material by Sol-gel Method and Evaluation of Corrosion Characteristics

Single $TiO_2$ coating prepared by sol-gel process usually experiences cracks in coating layer. In order to prevent cracks, an inorganic-organic hybrid $TiO_2-SiO_2$ coating was synthesized by combining precursors with an organic functional group. Five different coatings with various ratios of (1:8, 1:4, 1:1, 1:0.25 and 1:0.125) titanium alkoxide (TBOT, Tetrabutylorthotitanate) to organo-alkoxysilane (MAPTS, ${\gamma}$-Methacryloxy propyltrimethoxysilane) on carbon steel substrate were made by sol-gel dip coating. The prepared coatings were analyzed to study the coating properties (surface crack, thickness, composition) by scanning electron microscope (SEM), focused ion beam (FIB), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Potentiodynamic polarization tests and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were also performed to evaluate the corrosion characteristics of the coatings. Crack free $TiO_2-SiO_2$ hybrid coatings were prepared with the optimization of the ratio of TBOT to MAPTS. The corrosion rates were significantly decreased in the coatings for the optimized precursor ratio without cracks.