Carbon Nanofiber Reinforced Polyurethane Nano-composite Blend as Anticorrosive Coatings

This article presents the synthesis of polyurethane (PU) nanocomposite blends reinforced with carbon nanofiber (CNF) for use as anticorrosive coatings. Polyurethane blends were synthesized from hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) and PTMG with 1 wt% and 5 wt% CNF, designated as PU-0.1CNF and PU-0.5CNF. The inclusion of CNF enhanced the thermal stability, mechanical strength, and flexibility of the PU composites. Morphological examination revealed uniform dispersion of CNF. Thermal tests verified improved stability, and tensile tests indicated that PU-0.5CNF possessed a greater Young’s modulus. Electrochemical tests in 3 wt% NaCl solution indicated that PU-0.1CNF exhibited excellent anticorrosion performance with a protection efficiency of 98.43%. The nanocomposites also exhibited shape memory behaviour and can be applied as smart coatings. The work emphasizes that through the selection of the appropriate composition, PU composites can provide anticorrosion and shape memory effects.