Synthesis of Polypyrrole/CeO2Nanocomposite and its Application for Improving the Corrosion Protection of Acrylic Waterborne Coating on Mild Steel

In this work, polypyrrole/CeO2 nanocomposite (NC) was synthesized in the presence of methyl orange as a reactive self-degraded soft template. The field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) images indicate that the CeO2 NPs have a nucleus effect and cause a homogenous PPy core–shell type morphology with an encapsulation of the CeO2 core by the PPy shell. The effect of NC on acrylic waterborne coatings for preventing the corrosion of mild steel in 0.50 M HCl solution was evaluated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The choice of waterborne coatings was made on the basis of environment and human health considerations. The electrochemical impedance data obtained from both blank and coating with polypyrrole/CeO2 nanocomposite samples were ?tted with an equivalent circuit containing two time constants. The protection ef?ciency (PE) was measured from EIS method. According to the obtained PE values the coating with nanocomposite demonstrated higher corrosion resistance compared to blank coating.