Effect of MTMO silane concentration on electrogalvanized steel in the protection against corrosion

The barrier effect afforded by the silane film makes porosity, thickness and film homogeneity important issues in the protective effect. In the present work, the influence of the concentration and amount of layers of mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane (MTMO) applied on electrogalvanized steel on its corrosion behavior was evaluated.

Before silane application the substrate was degreased by immersion in toluene for 2 min at 40 ºC. The surface sample was activated by immersion in NaOH 10% p/v and applying a cathodic current density of 0,12 A/cm2, the temperature was controlled at 40 ºC. MTMO was prepared adding 2 or 4 % v/v of MTMO to a distilled water/methanol (3:2v/v, pH adjusted to 4 with acetic acid), and hydrolyzed for 60 min; some samples were coated with 1 layer of MTMO and others with 2 layers.