Nanoscale biobased exopolymer films were shown that provide protection to metal substrates under corrosive environments and that the films could be self-repairing in aqueous environments.  This work describes the fundamental properties of thin exopolymer films including thermodynamic properties, film-formation kinetics, and diffusion characteristics.  The co-products of a food-grade lactic acid bacterium, Leuconostoc mesenteroides, have become increasingly important as a source of enzymes, carbohydrates, and polymers. Specifically, the bacterial exopolysaccharide (EPS), NRRL B-1355, was selected because it was shown to be one of a family of anti-corrosive EPS on metal substrates. The goal was to describe the fundamental properties of polymer coatings on metal substrates. Thermodynamic and kinetic properties were determined for film formation and deposition and took into account the macroscopic variables such as temperature and polymer concentration. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurements provide accurate evidence of amount and topography of deposition while attenuated total internal reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) complementarily allowed for direct measurement of energy of formation with noticeable temperature dependence. EPS materials also can be used in other nontraditional applications such as biosensors, environmentally sensitive membranes, artificial muscles, actuators, electronic shielding, visual displays, and components in high-energy batteries.

Structure-function properties of anticorrosive exopolysaccharides

241st National Meeting (2011)

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