Sol-gel processing of hybrid nanocomposite protective coatings using experimental design

Environmentally friendly hybrid nanocomposite sol-gel coatings as substitutes for chromate conversion coatings have attracted a great deal of attention recently. The coatings derived from hydrolysis and condensation of polymerizable silane precursors tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) and 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPTMS) were deposited onAA5083 substrates by a dip coating technique. Statistical design of experimental (DoE) methodology based on Taguchi orthogonal design has been used to study and optimize compositional and process parameters using multifactor analysis of variance (ANOVA) analysis method and the adhesion strength of coatings to the substrate as per pull off test has been used as a response. Adhesive strength of sol-gel coatings to the substrate was evaluated using pull off and tape tests. Bending, impact resistance and pencil scratch tests were employed to characterize mechanical properties of different coatings. The surface morphology and chemical composition of the hybrid films were studied by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and Attenuated Total Reflectance-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR/FTIR), respectively. Optical microscopy (OM) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) were used to investigate structure of the coatings. The results show an increase of the hydrolysis water content at a constant organic/inorganic molar ratio and other variable parameters increases adhesion of coatings to substrate, and optimum coatings exhibit excellent mechanical properties as well as adhesive to the substrate.