Citric acid functionalized reduced graphene oxide containing bio‐based waterborne polyester thermoset as an excellent anticorrosive material

Abstract Protection of metal surfaces from corrosion by environmentally friendly coating is found to be an interesting and useful research topic. In this milieu, the authors presented an environment friendly bio‐based waterborne polyester thermoset as an anticorrosive organic coating. The polyesters comprise renewable resource based citric acid, dimer acid and glycerol along with citric acid functionalized reduced graphene oxide. Three different compositions of the polyester were produced by varying the amount (0.1, 0.5, and 1 weight%) of functionalized reduced graphene oxide. The structural and morphological attributes of these polyesters were evaluated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic, X‐ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopic, scanning electron microscopic, and transmission electron microscopic studies. The thermosets of the resinous polyesters were obtained by curing them with bio‐based glycerol containing epoxy and fatty acid modified poly(amido amine). The thermosets exhibited high tensile strength (18.68–26.94 MPa), elongation at break (176%–471%), toughness (22.74–86.5 MJ/m 3 ), thermal stability (up to 222°C), biodegradability and chemical resistance. Potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopic studies clearly revealed excellent corrosion resistance (impedance of the order of 10 7 ohm cm 2 and highest phase angle of 88.2°) of the mild steel coated plates. Thus, the formulated polyester thermosets could be used as a promising environment friendly high performing anticorrosive material.