Morphological and electrochemical behavior of epoxy –activated orange juice functionalized rice husk nanoparticles composite coating on mild steel

The work investigated values added epoxy composites coating of mild steel to be used in the marine environment using a sustainable material (activated orange juice) for functionalization of rice husk ash nanoparticles. The transmission and scanning electron microscope, X-ray diffraction, Atomic force microscope and electrochemical test in simulated seawater were used in the characterization of the developed composites coating. The work finds out that formation of smaller rice husk ash-nanostructure was obtained with the presence of orange juice. Functionalized of the rice husk ash nanoparticle with orange juice lead to the formation of small sub-grain and improved the surface appearance of the sample. 33.76 and 42.28% were obtained for the crystallinity index for the rice husk ash nanoparticle and pasteurized and activated rice husk ash nanoparticle. 78.72 and 70.23% improvement in corrosion resistance and coating thickness were obtained over the substrate at epoxy-2wt.% functionalized and activated rice husk ash nanoparticle. The presence of citrate ions in the orange acts as a stabilizer and reducing agents which were attributed to fine grain size and good corrosion resistance obtained in this work.