Analysis of the Properties of Gelatin–Ceramic Nanocomposite Coatings for Anti-corrosion and Anti-fretting Wear Protection for 304 Stainless Steel
摘要
Steel is extensively used in various industries due to its favorable mechanical and corrosion resistance properties. However, enhancing the corrosion resistance and fretting wear protection of steel surfaces remains a challenge. In this study, a novel nanocomposite coating combining oxide ceramics (TiO2, ZrO2, and Al2O2) with Type A porcine skin gelatin was successfully fabricated using a sol–gel dip-coating process. These hybrid coatings were thoroughly characterized to evaluate their surface morphology, molecular interactions, structural composition, and hydrophobicity. Advanced techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), x-ray diffraction (XRD), and water contact angle measurements were employed. The synergistic effects of the gelatin and ceramic oxides on improving corrosion resistance and fretting wear properties were assessed through potentiodynamic polarization tests and ball-on-disk wear experiments. Compared to pure gelatin-coated and uncoated steel substrates, the hybrid coatings demonstrated significant enhancements in corrosion protection, wear resistance, and friction reduction. Notably, the friction coefficient decreased by 9.68%, 47.58%, and 43.55% when the pure gelatin (G-0), gelatin-TiO2-ZrO2 (G-1), and gelatin-TiO2-Al2O2 (G-2) coatings were applied, respectively, indicating the superior performance of these nanocomposite coatings in industrial applications.