Conducting Polymer based Antifouling Coating

Conducting polyaniline polyacrylic acid based paints were synthesized chemically & applied on low carbon steels. The conducting polyaniline polyacrylic acid based powder was characterized by UV-V is absorption spectroscopy, FTIR Spectroscopy, Scanning Electron microscopy and its conductivity was measured by four probe method. Conductivity of polyaniline was found to be maximum at 0.1 ratio of polyacrylic acid to aniline. Peak observed at 620 nm in UV-V is spectroscopy clearly reveals the presence of polyaniline. The O-H and N-H stretching bonds observed in the FTIR spectrum it confirms the presence of polyaniline in synthesized powder. The nano spheres were found to be at Ì´100nm in Scanning Electron Microscope that confirms the presence of polyaniline. The electrolysis test showed that the conducting polyaniline synthesized from 0.001 M Polyacrylic acid and 0.01 M Aniline coated sample generate sulfate ions which inhibit the Fouling. Corrosion rate of conducting polyaniline synthesized from 0.001 M Polyacrylic Acid and 0.01 M Aniline based antifouling paints in 3.5%NaCl is found to be 1.41mpy which is about 3.5 times lower than that of uncoated low carbon steel in same medium. The electrochemical studies reveal protective nature of conducting polyaniline synthesized from 0.001 M Polyacrylic Acid and 0.01 M Aniline based Antifouling coating even after 48 hours of immersion. Conducting Polyaniline synthesized from 0.001 M Polyacrylic Acid and 0.01 M Aniline can be used as antifouling as well as Anti-corrosive in marine applications.