Nanoparticles in Coatings Reduce Corrosion

A recent article in Scientific Reports (https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-74345-0)(https://www.azom.com/news.aspx?newsID=63822) demonstrated the efficacy of copper and zinc oxide nanoparticles in reducing corrosion. Corrosion is a major problem worldwide that requires large amount of labor and resources to combat and limits the useful lifetime of metal components that are energy intensive to manufacture. As we explore benefits like this, we need to keep in mind the potential environmental and occupational health risks and take action now to limit the potential downsides of this technology. As these particles are manufactured and processed into coatings and applied to products, we need to keep them from washing away into the environment and from being inhaled by workers and maintainers.