Durability of vitreous enamel coatings and their resistance to abrasion, chemicals, and corrosion: a review

Vitreous enamels represent a class of coatings with different technological properties, mainly appreciated for the protection they guarantee to the covered substrates. This review introduces enamel coatings, describing their production technologies and presenting the main properties affecting the enamel’s durability. Firstly, this review article introduces the most important studies regarding the improvement in abrasion resistance, highlighting both successes and failures. Afterward, the work reveals an outlook about the resistance to chemicals, underlining the good resistance of enamels toward acidic chemicals and discussing the results of studies aimed to improve their performances toward alkaline solutions. This review also considers the corrosion protection property of enamels, highlighting the high barrier effect they provide against the absorption of aggressive substances toward metal substrates. Finally, new perspectives and possible future research paths are presented, being aware that this kind of coating offers both good product protection and functional integrity over time.