Zinc-Reinforced Carboxymethylcellulose-Based Protective Biopolymer Coating for Metal Surfaces
Abstract
Zinc-Reinforced Carboxymethylcellulose-Based Protective Biopolymer Coating for Metal Surfaces
Incoming article date: 09.11.2025A protective coating based on carboxymethylcellulose and zinc powder has been developed. It was established that the incorporation of zinc and the plasticizer glycerol into the polymer matrix leads to an increase in adhesion and mechanical strength of the coatings—from 5.1 MPa to 15.5 MPa and from grade 4 to grade 0, respectively. The morphology of the coating was examined using optical microscopy. It was shown that zinc particles are relatively uniformly distributed within the polymer matrix, and their aggregation decreases upon glycerol addition. Digital images of the coatings were used to quantitatively evaluate the fraction of zinc particles located at the coating–substrate interface. Due to particle sedimentation, the particle fraction at the interface exceeds that on the surface by 10–20%, which improves the coating’s adhesion to the substrate. The coating was found to be resistant to acidic and alkaline media, organic solvents, and alcohols.
Keywords: carboxymethylcellulose, zinc powder, coating, mechanical strength, adhesion, chemical resistance