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Article: Polyaniline coating for metals 'three times better than zinc'.
- Article from:
- The Engineer
- Article date:
- September 22, 2000
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2000 Centaur Communications Limited. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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FOR DECADES metals have been galvanised or painted to prevent rust. A new polymer may be about to change all that.
Used as a coating, the new plastic eliminates rust and corrosion to such a degree that cars, bridges and boats could last 10 times as long as they do now.
Developed by German firm Ormecon Chemie, in Ammersbek, the polymer, known as a polyaniline, takes part in the rusting process, creating a stable layer that is resistant to the effects of air, water and salt.
Rusting and corrosion occur when metal atoms bond with oxygen, forming oxides. In the case of iron or steel, the oxide flakes off, eroding and weakening the structure. This ...