The effect of curing on the properties of 3-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane based sol-gel coatings developed for protective applications in water-based environments

A sol-gel method was developed in this study to create a hydrophobic organic-inorganic polymer network protect aluminium substrates against corrosion, cavitation erosion, and biofouling. The coatings combined 3-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (MAPTMS) with zirconium (IV) propoxide (ZPO) and varied levels of Perfluorooctyltriethoxysilane (PFOTES). The study aimed at three objectives: examining the impact of PFOTES-modified sol-gel coatings' curing temperature on properties, corrosion, and cavitation erosion resistance; assessing hydrophobic characteristics under different curing conditions; and evaluating coating toxicity using Artemia franciscana and Brachionus plicatilis. The results of this study indicated that higher curing temperatures promote improved condensation reactions, leading to reduced porosity and enhanced mechanical properties of the coatings. The inclusion of PFOTES enhanced the hydrophobic nature of the coatings while exhibiting reduced toxicity towards marine microorganisms. These findings show the importance of optimizing curing parameters to improve the properties and performance of sol-gel coatings, ultimately enabling effective protection of metal substrates.