Polymers for Smart Coatings

Abstract

Smart coatings are referred to as intelligent coatings that can respond to a variety of external stimuli, including heat, light, mechanical induction, moisture, temperature, pressure, and electrolytes. Smart coatings respond to stimuli by varying their size, surface area, shape, temperature, and mechanical properties. These coatings are used in various fields, such as medical, transport, construction, military, electronics, and aviation, and aid in improving the efficiency of systems by saving time, reducing repair costs, and reducing downtime of equipment in many industrial settings. Following removal of the stimulus, smart coatings can return to their original state and can even do this repeatedly for years. As smart coatings are developed, the focus is on increasing product lifecycles and performance, and reducing maintenance costs considerably. Based on literature and new coating technologies, smart coatings include easy-to-clean, self-healing, chromic, and bioactive coatings. This chapter presents an overview of the fundamentals of smart polymer coatings and their classifications based on applications in different fields. Moreover, recent developments in polymeric smart coatings are reviewed.