Corrosion has been defined as an interaction of a material with its environment that results in an irreversible degradation of the material.1 Although organic coatings are often used to prevent the surface of a material from coming into contact with the corrosive environment, compromises in the formulation of many water-based coatings to improve adhesion can reduce their effectiveness at abating corrosion. Recent work with hybrid styrene acrylic polymers containing hydrophobic resin has shown that an improved balance of properties is possible compared to conventional acrylic or styrene acrylic polymers.
The reaction that takes place during corrosion of steel is caused by the creation of an electrochemical cell. This electrochemical cell needs four components to function – an anode, a cathode, a connection between the two and an electrolyte. The surface of steel is rather heterogeneous and has sites that can be anodic or cathodic, and the connection between them is provided by the steel itself. If the steel is exposed to an electrolyte like seawater, then all four necessary components of the cell are present and the corrosion on the surface of the steel will begin.