Abstract
The degradation of a zinc-rich epoxy primer/acrylic polyurethane coating system on carbon steel was studied in the simulated marine atmospheric solution (0.05% NaCl), industrial atmospheric solution (0.35% (NH4)2SO4), and marine-industrial atmospheric solution (0.05% NaCl + 0.35% (NH4)2SO4), by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy methods. The influences of the soluble contaminants in the atmospheres, including chloride ions, sulfate ions, and ammonium ions, on the coating failure mechanism were compared and analyzed. The results showed that the degradation speed of the coating system in three simulated atmospheric solutions is in the following order: simulated marine atmosphere > simulated marine-industrial atmosphere > simulated industrial atmosphere. The degradation is mainly related to the permeation rate of the water through the coating. The aggressive ions, basic cations, and the property of the corrosion products also have influences on the degradation process. The alternating temperature environment (45°C 12 h + 25°C 12 h) could increase the degradation speed of the coating and the difference of the speed in the three solutions.