Retraction notice: Effect of reinforcement of mixed metal oxide nanoparticles in polyurethane resin for barrier and dynamic mechanical properties of steel structures Free

The publisher of Anti-Corrosion Methods and Materials wishes to retract the article Xavier, J.R. (2022), “Effect of reinforcement of mixed metal oxide nanoparticles in polyurethane resin for barrier and dynamic mechanical properties of steel structures”, Anti-Corrosion Methods and Materials, Vol. 69 No. 5, pp. 469-480. https://doi.org/10.1108/ACMM-03-2022-2617. It has been brought to our attention that this article has some similarities to two earlier works: Xavier, J.R. Electrochemical and Mechanical Investigation of Newly Synthesized NiO-ZrO2 Nanoparticle–Grafted Polyurethane Nanocomposite Coating on Mild Steel in Chloride Media. J. of Materi Eng and Perform 30, 1554–1566 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-020-05448-8; S.P. Vinodhini, Joseph Raj Xavier, Effect of graphene oxide wrapped functional silicon carbide on structural, surface protection, water repellent, and mechanical properties of epoxy matrix for automotive structural components, Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, Volume 639, 2022, 128300, ISSN 0927-7757, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfa.2022.128300. Specifically, that Figure 8b is the duplicate of Figure 4 in Xavier, J.R. Electrochemical and Mechanical Investigation of Newly Synthesized NiO-ZrO2 Nanoparticle–Grafted Polyurethane Nanocomposite Coating on Mild Steel in Chloride Media. J. of Materi Eng and Perform 30, 1554–1566 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-020-05448-8, and that Figure 10a presents the same patterns as seen in Figure 11e in S.P. Vinodhini, Joseph Raj Xavier, Effect of graphene oxide wrapped functional silicon carbide on structural, surface protection, water repellent, and mechanical properties of epoxy matrix for automotive structural components, Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, Volume 639, 2022, 128300, ISSN 0927-7757, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfa.2022.128300. While these articles indicate that the materials are different, the SEM/EDX images are identical and suggest that they have been fraudulently manipulated. Further concerns were identified in Figures 8b and 10a–d with regard to the presence of repetitive patterns and other anomalies. The author was unable to address the identified discrepancies satisfactorily. As a result of these concerns, the findings of the article cannot be relied upon. Emerald’s publishing ethics policies emphasise that the deliberate adjustment or manipulation of an image or figure to affect the interpretation of the data is unethical. The publisher of the journal sincerely apologizes to the readers.