Self-healing for anticorrosion based on encapsulated healing agents

Abstract

Although the protection of metals from corrosion appears to be a Sisyphean work, promising developments have recently been proposed in the literature. We present here some new strategies, in which traditional methodologies employed for corrosion protection are married with the concept of self-healing. Efficient anticorrosion properties can be achieved by the encapsulation of corrosion inhibitors and/or monomers and catalysts for self-healing reactions. Nanocontainers for anticorrosion comprise a shell that is responsive to stimuli induced by corrosion and a core containing the healing substance. We present here the requirements for their design, synthesis, and application in coatings for metal substrates. The important factors to be taken into account and future directions are also discussed.