Self-Healing Coatings for Corrosion Inhibition of Metals

Anti-corrosion protective coatings have been widely applied as a surface treatment to prevent corrosion ofvarious metallic materials, such as aluminum alloys, magnesium alloys, steel and zinc-coated steel, which areused in automobile parts, building structures, home appliances, etc. One of the most important characteristics ofthese coatings is the ability to self-heal. If a self-healing coating suffers mechanical damage and corrosivespecies in the environment begin to degrade the bare metal surface, the damaged surface is automaticallyrepaired by a chemical component of the coating. Chromate conversion coatings have self-healing properties.However, environmental concerns have necessitated the reduction and discontinuation of chromate-basedprotective coatings in recent years. This paper describes two recently developed self-healing coatings — afluorine polymer coating with metal particles and a coating comprised of particles and an organic healing agent.A fluorine polymer coating has self-healing properties, which are improved by the addition of metal particles. Aself-healing coating that uses particles and an organic healing agent has also been developed.