Environment-Friendly Coatings for Corrosion Protection and Anti-Fouling Properties

Strategic Insights -

Researchers from the KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden, have developed innovative chitosan coatings that effectively prevent corrosion and antifouling properties. The coatings, immobilized with 2-mercaptobenzothiazole (MBT), are environment-friendly and show significant improvement in corrosion resistance and antifouling performance. The study, published in the journal Sustainable Materials and Technologies, highlights the potential of these coatings for underwater materials and structures, where corrosion and biofouling are significant concerns.

Key Takeaways:

  • The researchers developed chitosan coatings that are immobilized with 2-mercaptobenzothiazole (MBT) for active corrosion protection and anti-fouling properties.
  • The molecular interaction between chitosan and MBT was studied using infrared spectroscopy, revealing a significant improvement in corrosion resistance and antifouling performance.
  • The coatings were tested against marine mussels (Mytilus coruscus), with the chemically linked CS-MBT coating showing a 10% settlement after 48 hours, compared to 20% settlement on coatings prepared by physical association.
  • The findings provide a new route to construct coatings that are effective in corrosion inhibition and have long-term antifouling properties.
  • The research has been peer-reviewed and published in the journal Sustainable Materials and Technologies.

Statistics:

  • The coatings showed a dramatic improvement in corrosion inhibition, with the corrosion current of the physically associated coatings being a magnitude lower than that of MBT-entrapped coatings.
  • The coatings formed by chemical linking had a significantly higher corrosion resistance, with the corrosion current being about one-fifth compared to physically associated coatings.
  • The antifouling activity of the coatings was evaluated against marine mussels, with the chemically linked CS-MBT coating showing a 10% settlement after 48 hours.

Sources:

  • Chenxi Li, Jin-Long Yang, et al. "Chemical Linkage In Bifunctional Chitosan-mercaptobenzothiazole (Mbt) Coatings for Enhanced Corrosion Prevention and Antifouling Activities." Sustainable Materials and Technologies, 2025;44.
  • NewsRx. "Investigators at KTH Royal Institute of Technology Report Findings in Sustainable Materials and Technology." Ecology, Environment & Conservation, July 11, 2025; p 688.
  • KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Funct Nanomat Grp. "Chemical Linkage In Bifunctional Chitosan-mercaptobenzothiazole (Mbt) Coatings for Enhanced Corrosion Prevention and Antifouling Activities."