title: A shape-recovery polymer coating for the corrosion protection of metallic surfaces.
abstract: Self-healing polymer coatings are a type of smart material aimed for advanced corrosion protection of metals. This paper presents the synthesis and characterization of two new UV-cure self-healing coatings based on acrylated polycaprolactone polyurethanes. On a macroscopic scale, the cured films all show outstanding mechanical properties, combining relatively high Young's modulus of up to 270 MPa with a strain at break above 350%. After thermal activation the strained films recover up to 97% of their original length. Optical and electron microscopy reveals the self-healing properties of these coatings on hot dip galvanized steel with scratches and microindentations. The temperature-induced closing of such defects restores the corrosion protection and barrier properties of the coating as shown by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and scanning vibrating electrode technique. Therefore, such coatings are a complementary option for encapsulation-based autonomous corrosion protection systems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials and Chemistry, Research Group Electrochemical and Surface Engineering, Vrije Universiteit Brussel , Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lutz
authors.forename: Otto
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: van den Berg
authors.forename: Jonas
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Van Damme
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Verheyen
authors.forename: Erwin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bauters
authors.forename: Iris
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: De Graeve
authors.forename: Filip E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Du Prez
authors.forename: Herman
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Terryn
keywords: SVET; corrosion protection; polycaprolactone; self-healing coatings; smart materials