Electrochemical mechanisms of coating failure

Sustainable Coatings by Rational Design (SusCoRD) is a multi-disciplinary project which aims to, for the first time, connect a detailed scientific understanding of the mechanisms of coatings failure with state-of-the-art-machine learning to deliver a framework for the optimisation of protective coatings and nanocomposite materials. The project is a collaboration between the Universities of Manchester, Sheffield, Liverpool and our industrial partner AkzoNobel.

Recent modelling work on how defects in protective coatings and paints interact with large intact areas of coated structures has shown that there may be some very localised effects within such defects that could contribute to the types of corrosion observed. In this project, a combination of Finite Element modelling using the COMSOL Multiphysics software package and surface sensitive experimental techniques such as Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy and Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy will be used to understand the potential distribution around and within defects on coated metal structures. This understanding will then help develop improved formulations to resist the spread of corrosion and the failure of the protective paint coating.

Informal applications can be made to Nick Stevens ([email protected] ).