ABSTRACT
Present directives in corrosion control focus on development of non-metal-based coatings. In particular, the elimination of chromium from corrosion coatings is critical for environmental reasons. The toxicity of chromium and its presence throughout the environment have made the directive in corrosion control a critical environmental concern and imminent technological challenge. Many polymeric materials have been tested and considered as alternatives to the present systems. These include polysiloxanes [1], polymer blends based on polymethylmethacrylate/ polysiloxanes, and copolymers of these materials [1]. Oxidized and carbided metal surfaces have been analyzed as chromium substitutes as well [2-6]. Thus far, the technology has not advanced to a level that is competitive with the current industrial technologies, although prototypical materials and patent applications have been submitted for polymer coating processes. This limited success in corrosion control has been achieved by utilizing conducting polymers, principally polyaniline and polypyrroles. The primary limitations are attributed to problems of adhesion, solubility, and processibility. In some cases oligomers of polyaniline are used as they possess reasonably high solubility in common organic solvents; however, limited data are available for these materials. These issues can be addressed by consideration of molecular-level interactions through experimental and theoretical objectives.
