Marrying Step-Growth Polymerization and Radical Photopolymerization for Preparing Antifouling and Anticorrosion Materials

Metallic materials immersed in aquatic environments are susceptible to corrosion, accelerated by biofouling. Although protective coatings are often applied to metallic structures, they are prone to mechanical damage, which then reduces the lifespan of the metallic structures. To address this, multifunctional coatings with self-healing, anticorrosion, and antifouling properties are prepared by synthesizing poly(urea–urethane)s containing photoinitiator moieties. In a subsequent step, a fluorinated monomer is radically polymerized upon dissociation of the photoinitiator, and fluorinated poly(urea–urethane)s are obtained. The polymers display self-healing properties at low temperatures and can be processed as coatings. The coatings act as a barrier against corrosion while they repel bacteria and algae.