Waterborne Epoxy Coatings

Graphene as a two-dimensional nanomaterial has been extensively researched as a new additive to improve barrier performance, reduce corrosion and

extend service life in protective coatings. Previous results have demonstrated significant uplifts in anticorrosive performance in solvent-based coatings using graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs), presenting new opportunities for improved protective coatings with extended service life.

However, water-based coating development remains a key focus for industry formulators where there is an ongoing effort to reduce the release of volatile organics and achieve comparable anticorrosion performance to that seen in solvent-based systems.

To date, dispersion of graphene in water-based systems has been problematic, causing coating instabil- ity or requiring large amounts of surfactant. A break- through technology has been developed that enables easy dispersion in water-based coatings while delivering improved corrosion performance. This development provides an important step to raising waterborne coat- ings’ anticorrosion performance and use.