Phenol Electropolymerization: a Straight Route from Monomers to Polymer Coatings

Recent results on phenol electropolymerization aimed at the simultaneous production and deposition of protective coatings are described. Discussion is especially focused on the electrochemical growth mechanism of the non-conducting polymer films (previously unpublished chronoamperometric and chronopotentiometric results are provided and compared with a simple model), incorporation of corrosion inhibitors, the selected inhibitor being 2-benzothiazolylthiosuccinic acid, coating of phosphated mild steel and phosphated galvanized steel via the cathodic deposition of minor Zn amounts in the phosphate layer pores and protective performance of the coated samples, studied by a.c. impedance. It is shown that significant advances have been achieved since 1987, when a comprehensive review was published, in both the fundamental understanding of the process and the protective capabilities of the coatings.