Metal corrosion is a common problem that is responsible for serious financial losses and even disasters. Anti-corrosion measures, usually in the form of protective coating on metal surfaces, need to be compatible with widely varying environmental factors.
This challenge lead Hsiu-Hui Chen, National Kaohsiung Normal University, and Jui-Ming Yeh, Chung-Yuan Christian University, both Taiwan, and colleagues to explore the use of hexa-n-dodecyl-hexa-peri-hexabenzocoronene (HBC-C12), a well-known discotic liquid crystal material, as corrosion-resistant coating for iron. The researchers drop cast thin films of HBC-C12 on iron substrates, followed by thermal annealing, and find that the hydrophobic layer can effectively inhibit electrochemical corrosion by blocking water and oxygen.
The study demonstrates the high performance of a discotic liquid crystal as an anti-corrosion coating. Considering its well-ordered microstructure and high thermal stability, HBC-C12 and similar compounds may be useful for a variety of anti-corrosion applications.
- Discotic liquid crystals as novel corrosion-resistant coatings,
Hsiu-Hui Chen, Kung-Chin Chang, Chien-Ming Chu, Hsu-Heng Hung, Min-Hsiang Hsu, Yu-Chun Hung, Chien-Shiang Wang, Jui-Ming Yeh,
Chem. Commun. 2014.
DOI: 10.1039/c4cc06811d
