In-situ self-crosslinking strategy for autonomous self-healing materials

Abstract

Autonomous self-healing anticorrosion protective coatings from intrinsic polymers is a great challenge. In this work, in-situ self-crosslinking strategy was demonstrated for constructing self-healing anticorrosion polymers. The as-synthesized polymers had tunable catechol content and mechanical properties. The specimens could be repaired in an Fe3+ solution owing to the formation of dynamic catechol-Fe3+ coordination crosslinking sites. Moreover, when scratched, the prepared polymers exhibited a self-healing anticorrosion performance, as evidenced by salt immersion and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. An in-situ self-crosslinking mechanism was proposed, which was derived from the dynamic coordination of catechol groups in the polymer chains and Fe3+ produced from the metal substrate. This intrinsic self-healing anticorrosion polymer are highly potential for anticorrosion applications in harsh environments.