Intrinsic self-healing polymer coatings with autonomous corrosion protection based on synergistic healing mechanisms

Abstract

This study presents an intelligent polymer coating material with synergistic healing mechanisms that combine autonomous damage healing and inhibitor release, addressing critical challenges in metal corrosion protection. The synthesized polymer, composed of polythioctic acid incorporating cerium ions, selectively releases corrosion inhibitors and self-heals mechanical damage upon corrosion onset. The cerium ions serve dual roles as corrosion inhibitors and crosslinkers in the polythioctic acid matrix. The damaged coating nearly fully recovered its barrier properties within 12 h without external stimuli, achieving a healing efficiency of up to 94 % in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution. At the end of its service life, the coating could be recycled under mild conditions, achieving a monomer recovery efficiency of 82 %. This study offers a promising corrosion protection strategy that combines sustainability with high performance for harsh environmental applications.