Role of Preparation Method on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of PPy/Ni Organic–Inorganic Hybrid Bilayer Coatings on Carbon Steel

The efficacy of the conducting polymers as coating on a metallic substrate is strongly dependent on the manner how they are applied. Polypyrrole (PPy)/Ni organic–inorganic hybrid coatings were electropolymerized on commercial carbon steel (AISI 1018) by combining potentiostatic and potentiodynamic techniques. In first instance, it was analyzed the electrodeposition of PPy using a constant potential regime and cyclic voltammetry techniques evaluating different synthesis parameters such as deposition time, applied potential, and potential cycles, respectively. Thereafter, it was used a potentiostatic method to obtain PPy/Ni bilayer films. The morphological, mechanical, and adhesion properties of these films depend on the synthesis parameters. The results revealed that polypyrrole films formed by both methods provide a globular-type structure, although coatings produced by cyclic voltammetry are denser and slightly thicker than those produced potentiostatically. Ni (oxide/hydroxide) particles are capable of sealing the pores of globular PPy coatings, thus increasing the hardness of the carbon steel (CS)/PPy/Ni system. As a result of the study, we have seen that PPy/Ni bilayer films are more uniform, compact and enhanced the hardness when the PPy is obtained by cyclic voltammetry than that observed for potentiostatic approach. Specifically, when four potential cycles are used to electropolymerized pyrrole, the more convenience properties in the CS/PPy/Ni arrangement are obtained.