A Silicone-Modified Epoxy Resin With High Silicon Content for Anticorrosion Applications in Pipeline Engineering

This work presents the synthesis of a high-silicon organosilicon-modified epoxy resin via ester exchange reaction. The resulting coating successfully combines the advantageous properties of its constituents, demonstrating excellent strength and toughness even at silicon contents exceeding 30%. Specifically, the tensile strength and elongation at break were enhanced by 35.91% and 61.77%, respectively, compared to the unmodified epoxy resin. The uniformly dispersed organosilicon not only improved the thermal stability of the matrix but also, through slight enrichment at the coating surface, conferred enhanced hydrophobic characteristics. Under prolonged exposure to acidic and saline corrosive environments, the in situ enriched silica layer effectively prevents the diffusion of corrosive media, thereby significantly enhancing the coating's corrosion resistance. The mechanism underlying the coating's performance and its degradation was systematically investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). This convenient and efficient preparation method offers a novel strategy for corrosion protection in metal pipeline engineering.