In an effort to mimic self-healing functions in biological systems, we report here the development of polymeric coating systems that are stimuli responsive and possess the ability to self-heal when damaged. This work describes coatings that contain small amounts of healing agent in the form of microcapsule homogeneously dispersed in the coating medium. The most attractive feature of this system is that the factors that cause the most damage to the coating, such as humidity, mechanical compromise, exposure to high temperatures etc., are the same factors that initiate self-healing phenomenon. This property is unique since the extent of the healing is proportional to the magnitude of the damage, i.e., repair on demand. It was confirmed that the simulated natural aging or mechanical damage triggered the release of healing agents, repaired the damage, restored the integrity of the coating and enhanced overall coating properties. The development of self-healing materials has the potential to significantly impact the coatings and related industries by enhancing coatings' performance and service life.

Recent advances in self-healing polymers and coatings

244th National Meeting (2012)

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