Block copolymers for corrosion protection of aluminium

Abstract In this work, poly( n -butyl acrylate- b -trifluoroethyl methacrylate) (PBA- b -PTFEMA) and poly( n -butyl acrylate- b -heptadecafluorodecyl methacrylate) (PBA- b -PHFEMA) diblock copolymers synthesized by controlled radical polymerisation are used as a monolayer to protect aluminium against corrosion. Contact angle measurements show hydrophobic behaviour that can be attributed to the presence of a fluorinated block. The preferential orientation of the fluorinated block at the coating/air interface can explain the high hydrophobicity behaviour. Finally, corrosion resistance has been investigated by Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS). The results show that the PBA- b -PHFEMA copolymer provides excellent anti-corrosion barrier properties, even after 60 days of immersion in a solution of 3% NaCl.