2024
BConventional epoxy coatings use BPA-EC as resin and cycloaliphatic amine as curing agent, but their toxicity drives the need for safer alternatives. Aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) and kraft lignin have shown potential as substitutes based on preliminary adhesion results. To optimize the coating’s performance, particularly hydrophobicity—which is crucial for submerged metal protection—response surface methodology using a Box–Behnken design was applied.
The initial model yielded a P-value of 0.0198, prompting refinement by excluding less significant terms, resulting in an improved P-value of 0.0001 and a prediction error of 9.84%. The analysis showed non-linear effects of the constituents and confirmed BPA-EC’s significant positive influence on hydrophobicity. Thus, while partial replacement with lignin is feasible, a minimum level of BPA-EC is necessary to maintain coating performance, validating its essential role in the optimized formulation.