Enhancing glass durability with acidic coatings: a comparative study on corrosion prevention efficiency

Abstract

Soda lime silicate float glass, the world's most extensively produced glass type, is highly susceptible to corrosion, especially when stored or transported in humid and high-temperature environments. This study investigates the corrosion prevention performance of three acidic aqueous coating systems: organic acid (OAS), polymeric (PS), and polymeric organic acid (POAS) solutions. Pristine glass substrates were spray-coated with each solution, and the resulting coatings were evaluated for surface uniformity (via white light interferometry, WLI) and water resistance (via contact angle measurements). The coated substrates were then subjected to accelerated weathering (500 h at 50 degrees C and 95% relative humidity), and changes in surface morphology and optical quality were assessed using atomic force microscopy (AFM), UV-Vis spectrophotometry, hazemeter, contact angle analysis, and methylene blue staining tests. The POAS coating, composed of poly(methacrylic acid) and sodium metabisulfite, provided the most effective protection, with minimal surface roughening and negligible optical degradation, attributed to strong hydrogen bonding and ionic interactions with surface silanol groups of glass, as well as redox stabilization during film formation. In contrast, PS coating exhibited lower interfacial adhesion due to the inert nature of polyethylene glycol, and OAS coating-composed of citric acid-suffered from ZnCl2-induced agglomeration in the absence of a polymeric matrix. These findings demonstrate that polymer chemistry, ionic content, and surface interaction mechanisms collectively govern coating properties and anticorrosive performance, underscoring the potential of acid-functional polymeric systems as practical and scalable solutions for glass protection during critical handling and storage periods.