Development of Anti-Corrosion Hybrid Nanocoatings for Oil and Gas Pipelines Using Eco-Friendly Plant Extracts

Abstract

Corrosion continues to be one of the most important issues that impact the safety, reliability and economic operation of oil and gas pipeline systems globally. There are various conventional anti-corrosion coatings and synthetic corrosion inhibitors which have been used extensively for preventing material corrosion, but many of them have environmental issues, short life and require high maintenance. With the ever-increasing demand for sustainable engineering materials, this study explores the use of eco-friendly plant extracts in the development of anti-corrosion hybrid nanocoating for protection of oil and gas pipelines. The designed coating will combine plant-based phytochemicals with cutting-edge nanomaterials, offering a multifunctional coating that can improve corrosion resistance and minimize environmental footprint. A metallurgical engineering approach was used for the synthesis, characterization and performance evaluation of the hybrid nanocoatings. The polyphenols, flavonoids and tannins isolated from the plants were mixed with plant-dispersed nanoparticles in a polymeric matrix to improve adhesion, stability on surface and barrier of coatings. The morphology of the coatings, chemical interactions, corrosion protection ability were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and electrochemical testing methods. Based on the results, it can be inferred that the synergic effect between the nanoparticles and the bioactive plant compounds has a significant effect on the ability of the coating to reduce the moisture penetration, diffusion of ions on the coating film and electrochemical corrosion reactions occurring on the metal surface. In conclusion, the hybrid nanocoatings hold great potential for improving the life cycle of pipelines in terms of durability, maintenance requirements, and environmental impact. The findings of this research are helping to develop green materials technology and offer a very interesting basis for future use of bio based nanocoatings in the oil and gas industry.