Morphological Aspects of Thermosetting Polymers/Zn Composite Coatings

Abstract

The present work has the purpose of studying the morphological aspects of composite coatings having zinc matrix and thermosetting polymers (PF resin type NOVOLAC - RESITAL 6358/1 and epoxy resin type DINOX 110L) as dispersed phase obtained during the electrodeposition process of zinc. The composite coatings layers were electrodeposited from a suspension of resin particles in aqueous zinc sulphate electrolyte by adding 10 g/L resin particles with size 0.1-5 μm into electrolyte solution. The structure of the coatings was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) methods. The surface morphology of thermosetting polymers/Zn composite coatings layers is different compared with pure zinc coatings: the regular crystal structure characteristic of electroplated zinc coatings was disturbed. The decreases in the roughness of composite coatings layers compared to roughness of pure zinc layers can be determined by the fine structure of the composite coatings.