Anti-corrosion Behaviour of an Epoxy Resin Coating Modified with Hydrophobic Nano-silica on a Q235 Carbon Steel Surface

Yan Lv and Xin-yu Pan

DOI: https://doi.org/10.64486/m.66.1.7
Online publication date: May 26, 2026

Abstract: Corrosion poses pervasive threats to daily-life infrastructure, causing severe economic losses and potential safety hazards, which underscores the urgent demand for high-performance anti-corrosion coatings. This study focuses on enhancing the corrosion resistance and service reliability of phosphated Q235 carbon steel by developing an epoxy coating modified with hydrophobic nano-silica, thereby contributing to the reduction of corrosion-induced risks and potential economic losses in practical applications. The coatings were systematically characterized using scanning electron microscopy, static contact angle measurements, thermogravimetric analysis, and electrochemical techniques. The results demonstrate that the nano-silica-doped coating significantly improves the corrosion protection performance, thermal stability, and surface hydrophobicity of phosphated Q235 steel, with the water contact angle increasing at higher nano-silica loadings. This work confirms that hydrophobic nano-silica modification represents an effective strategy to optimize epoxy anti-corrosion coatings, which is beneficial for prolonging service life and improving the operational safety of carbon steel components in service environments.

Keywords: hydrophobic; nano-silica; epoxy; coating; corrosion

This article is published online first and will appear in Metalurgija, Vol. 66, Issue 1 (2027).