Abstract
The potential of inorganic nanomaterials as reservoirs for healing agents is presented here. Mesoporous silica (SBA-15) and TiO2 nanotubes (TNTs) were synthesized. Both epoxy-encapsulated TiO2 nanotubes and amine-immobilized mesoporous silica were incorporated into epoxy and subsequently coated on a carbon steel substrate. The encapsulated TiO2 nanotubes was quantitatively estimated using a ‘dead pore ratio’ calculation. The morphology of the composite coating was studied in detail using transmission electron microscopic (TEM) analysis. The self-healing ability of the coating was monitored using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS); the coating recovered 57% of its anticorrosive property in 5 days. The self-healing of the scratch on the coating was monitored using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The results confirmed that the epoxy pre-polymer was slowly released into the crack. The released epoxy pre-polymer came into contact with the amine immobilized in mesoporous silica and cross-linked to heal the scratch.
Highlights
The potential of inorganic nanomaterials as reservoirs for healing agents is presented here
Because the amount of amine immobilized mesoporous silica in the EP/TiO2 nanotubes (TNTs)/Imeso composite is very low (0.8 phr) compared to the amount in the TiO2 nanotube (7.5 phr), the presence of mesoporous silica is not considered while calculating the dead pore ratio
Epoxy coatings with both epoxy-encapsulated TiO2 nanotubes and amine immobilized mesoporous silica were prepared on carbon steel
Summary
The potential of inorganic nanomaterials as reservoirs for healing agents is presented here. The released epoxy pre-polymer came into contact with the amine immobilized in mesoporous silica and cross-linked to heal the scratch. The use of inorganic nanomaterials as reservoirs for healing agents can eliminate the tedious encapsulation process Inorganic particles such as cerium molybdate[15], mesoporous silica[13,16], hollow titanium dioxide spheres[2], cerium titanium oxide[17], etc., were reported as containers for corrosion inhibitors to provide self-healing protective coatings for metals. This research aims to explore the potential of TiO2 nanotubes and mesoporous silica as containers to store epoxy pre-polymer and the amine curing agent, respectively. A simple method for the preparation of self-healing epoxy coating for carbon steel by utilizing both mesoporous silica and TiO2 nanotube was used in this study. TiO2 nanotubes (TNT) prepared by a hydrothermal method were used to encapsulate the epoxy pre-polymer
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
