Mechanism of cathodic delamination control of zinc-aluminum phosphate pigment in waterborne coatings

摘要

The propagation of the cathodic delamination and blistering was studied for different waterborne paint systems, with or without the zinc aluminum phosphate (ZAP) pigment. The mechanism by which ZAP reacts at the metal-coating interface to improve coating performance against cathodic delamination and blister formation was investigated by means of scanning acoustic microscopy (SAM), pull-off test and surface analysis. The presence of the pigment clearly enhanced the adhesion and delamination resistance of the coating upon immersion. It has been evidenced how the pH buffer properties of the ZAP pigment play an important role in reducing the advancement of the delamination front. A compact film constituted of zinc and sodium phosphates was found, on the substrate surface, solely within the delaminated area. The precipitation of this phosphate layer on the cathodic sites is thought to polarize the cathodic reaction, contributing to slowing down the delamination reaction.