PPy–TiO2–phenylalanine composites as anticorrosive coatings electrodeposited over Fe–C steel surface in the marine environment

Electro-polymerized pyrrole composite incorporated with TiO2 and phenylalanine (Phe) was electrodeposited over Fe–C steel sheet at time intervals of 1200 s and 1500 s using chronopotentiometry. The composite (PPy–TiO2–Phe) was evaluated against corrosion in 3.5% NaCl solution on Fe–C steel. The composite coated (CC) steel was studied and compared through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The anticorrosive impact of CC steel was investigated through electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), potentiodynamic polarization and weight loss techniques in the marine environment and found that the CC steel exhibited the maximum inhibition efficiency up to 90%. A brief overview of the protection mechanism is also proposed.