Organic coatings protect the underlying metallic substrate against corrosion by acting as a barrier to corrosive species such as water, ions, and oxygen. Unfortunately, coatings might contain defects and could degrade or disbond under some environmental conditions, resulting in favorable pathways for such corrosive species.
Barrier protection is one of the modes by which intact coatings provide protection to metal substrates through a reduction of the transport of materials, ions, or charge.