Characterization, physicomechanical and corrosion properties of reinforced microcrystalline cellulose treated silane unsaturated polyester primer coatings

Corrosion has been a major universal issue due to failure of building structures and high maintenance. The utilization of unsaturated polyester (UPE) as primer coating is insufficient to inhibit the corrosion. Hence, microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) had been incorporated into UPE as a reinforcement filler for the production of primer coatings, due to its high crystalline region in the structure. The objectives of this study were to investigate the physical, mechanical, and corrosive properties of various MCC loadings (0,3,6, 9,12 and 15wt%) reinforced UPE applied on metal substrates and determine the effect of silane treatment (MCC-APTES) on MCC reinforcement used in UPE-MCC coating for primer application. The coating properties were studied for adhesion, mechanical and corrosive properties using pencil hardness, adhesion tape and immersion tests. At 6% MCC-APTES loading showed improvement in mechanical and adhesion properties at 6H grade and less than 5 % pull out test for pencil hardness and adhesion tests respectively. Whilst the immersion test demonstrated that at 6% MCC-APTES of loading gives optimum corrosion resistant where no corrosion found as compared to the control sample as supported by the improved interaction shown in FTIR spectrum. Therefore, it was evidenced that at 6% of MCC-APTES has significant potential as a reinforcement filler and promotes enhanced mechanical, adhesion, and corrosion properties as compared to other formulations.