Experimental and numerical study on smectic aligned zirconium phosphate decorated graphene oxide hybrids effects over waterborne epoxy multi-functional properties enhancement

Waterborne epoxy (WEP) resins are of great significance as multifunctional properties recently. Nevertheless, their curing process, which involves the formation of numerous micro-pores via water evaporation, has limited applications in the industrial utilizations. In this work, we have synthesized and enhanced the water-dispersible Zirconium phosphate decorated graphene oxide (ZrP@GO) nanocomposites through a one-step preparation method of graphene oxide (GO) sheets decorated with ZrP nanoparticles, and the as-prepared ZrP@GO nanocomposites were introduced as nanofillers for WEP system in order to enhance its multifunctional properties. The as-prepared GO, ZrP, and ZrP@GO hybrids were scrutinized by XRD, XPS, Raman, TGA, and its morphology study were investigated with the assistance of AFM, TEM, and FESEM. The anticorrosive properties were analyzed using natural salt spray tests (NSS). The ZrP@GO mixed WEP coatings exhibit better protection towards corrosion when compared to WEP/GO and WEP/ZrP coatings. Also, the excellent mechanical and thermal properties were achieved with the incorporation of ZrP@GO hybrids with the WEP system. The better performance of ZrP@GO was achieved through enhanced dispersion, exfoliation, and the outstanding shielding effect of the smectic aligned layers of ZrP@GO hybrids. Besides, a finite element model proposed through this research to predict the tensile behaviors are good in agreement with the measured vales.