2D nanomaterials such as graphene, boron nitride, and molybdenum disulfide composites are known to have anti-corrosion properties. However, interactions with saline environments can significantly influence this property. Here, the superior anti-corrosion properties of a 2D MXene composite coating derived from the MAX phase are obtained over mild steel. MXene-polymer interactions serve as an efficient electron donor for the corrosion pathway, where electrons modify oxygen-containing functional groups on MXene surfaces to generate reactive hydroxide. Therefore, the cathodic electrochemical reaction due to oxygen reduction is significantly controlled by MXene, as confirmed by the reduced cathodic slope in the Tafel polarization measurements. The lack of an anti-corrosion effect in the pure polymer film of 10±2µm on mild steel was addressed by MXene polyimide composite coating, by electrochemical studies having an impedance of 2.18×107 Ω.cm2 after 360 hours of immersion in 3.5% NaCl medium. Including MXene improves the corrosion resistance and increases the film's adhesion strength, contact angle and conductivity to 1.17×10-3 S/cm of MXene polyimide nanocomposite coating. Lastly, a mechanism has been proposed to understand the anti-corrosion behaviour of MXene in a polyimide matrix.

Keywords: MXene, Corrosion, Mild steel, Polyimide, Coating

I’m Dr Tapan Kumar Rout, currently holding responsibility for New Technology Development and Coatings of Tata Steel Group, working from Jamshedpur, India. I did my PhD in surface chemistry from Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)-Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology (IMMT), Bhubaneswar in the year 2006.
In addition to my PhD experience, my areas of expertise include corrosion, surface coatings, polymer technology, pre-treatment and painting, passivation, nano-materials synthesis, and mineral processing especially dewatering of liquid effluent treatment from various  Industries. 
I have published 122 peer reviewed international publications, 15 national publications and filed 51 patents ( h-index 26 and i10 index 52). 
I was awarded YOUNG METALLURGIST OF YEAR-2006 for the excellence contribution to materials research from Govt, of India  and NACE International award for the excellence in corrosion science and technology in the year 2011. Mineral Excellence Award in 2022 from IIME, India. National award for excellency in Electrochemistry in 2025 from Electro-chemical Society of India. 
I have been using my industrial experience and collaborative networks for the project management and resources development for the academia and research.