Fan Zhang

Position:
PhD Student

Project:
Universal primer with anticorrosion properties for different types of metals and plastic materials

Telephone:
+46 8 7906642

E-mail:
fanzhang@kth.se

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Curriculum Vitae

• Born in Tianjin, China (1983).
• Bachelor of material science and engineering, specifically metallic technology, at the Tianjin University, China(2006).
• Master of Chemistry, specifically electrochemical science, at the Xiamen University, China (2009).
i. Working on the project entitled “localized corrosion behavior of reinforcement steel in simulated concrete pore solution” at Xiamen University, China, from June 2007 until August 2009.
ii. Working on the project entitled “localized corrosion behavior of tooling alloys” at the Division of corrosion science of KTH, Sweden since May 2008.
• Enrolled as a Ph.D. student at the Division of Surface and Corrosion Science, KTH, Sweden, since November 2008.

Project description

The project is a collaboration between Div. of surface and Corrosion Science at KTH, IVF and Biopolymer AB. The aim is to develop an environmentally friendly universal primer that will improve the adhesive strength for coatings on metals and polymeric materials. The primer consists of the protein MAP, which is extracted from the mussel glue. the glue binds to all types of solid surfaces, and has an unusual ability to replace water from the surface. The primer will replace surface pre-treatment processes as well as corrosion inhibitors with a substantial negative environmental impact.
The research at KTH is to achieve a detailed mechanistic understanding of the film formation process of MAP, and the film properties on aluminum, steel, zinc-plated steel and polypropylene. We will explore the adhesive strength of the protein films on different surfaces before and after protein cross.linking. Another step is to explore the adsorption behavior of MAP on different surfaces, providing information on adsoption kinetics and film thickness. Furthermore, the applicability of MAP as corrosion inhibitor for aluminum, steel and zinc-plated steel will be investigated for both adsorbed MAP films and MAP in solution. For adsobed films, oxide formation at the protein-metal interface as well as functional groups involved in surface binding and corrosion protection. All electrochemical results for the MAP primer will be benchmarked against existing and commonly used surface pretreatment techniques and corrosion inhibitors. The fundamental research will utilize a combination of advanced electrochemical techniques and sensitive surface analysis techniques.