Mechanical and Functional Properties of Composite Coatings with Fine Reinforcements Produced from Galvanic Processing Waste

The potential of wastewaters from the galvanic industry treated to remove toxic heavy-metal contaminants for the manufacture of commercial products lies in the development of processes for their reuse. This research addresses the feasibility of employing galvanic waste in the production of powder coatings. Powder waste generated through the resource-saving ferritic method and electroerosion dispersion method is significantly safer for the environment than that generated through reagent methods. Coatings resulting from wastewater treatment exhibit mechanical properties that meet current industry standards. The introduction of 15 wt.% spent polyvalent iron oxide sorbent into paint coatings enhances their mechanical performances. Specifically, the rebound strength increases from 20 to 40 cm/kg and tensile strength from 5 to 7.4 mm, the bending strength decreases from 8 to 5 mm, and the corrosion resistance of the coatings improves by 1.5 times compared to the standard samples. These improvements are attributed to the introduction of chemically and thermally stable crystalline phases possessing ferromagnetic properties into the coatings. As a result, these coatings increase shielding against electromagnetic radiation in the megahertz range by three times compared to the standard coatings. A significant research finding is the potential for reusing ferromagnetic waste from the galvanic industry in specialized materials.