Biohybrid microcapsules based on electrosprayed CS-immobilized nanoZrV for self-healing epoxy coating development

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Corrosion Engineering
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Developing advanced protective coatings is crucial for extending the lifespan of materials.
• Self-healing coatings offer a promising solution for autonomous repair of damage, enhancing durability.
• Chitosan-based materials are explored for their biocompatibility and film-forming properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To create a self-healing coating for carbon steel corrosion protection.
• To immobilize zirconium vanadate nanoparticles into chitosan via electrospraying.
• To evaluate the self-healing mechanism and corrosion resistance of the developed coating.

Main Methods:

• Electrospraying technique for chitosan-zirconium vanadate (CS-ZrV) hybrid microcapsule synthesis.
• Incorporation of microcapsules into an epoxy resin to form the CZVEx coating.
• Corrosion testing using SEM and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) in 3.5 wt% NaCl.

Main Results:

• CS-ZrV microcapsules exhibited good thermal stability (∼55% at 700 °C) and a mean particle size of 319 μm.
• The CZVEx coating demonstrated effective defect healing via epoxide gel formation from released polymeric vanadate.
• EIS analysis confirmed significant impedance rise, indicating robust self-healing capabilities and superior corrosion resistance compared to bare steel.

Conclusions:

• The developed CS-ZrV hybrid microcapsules are suitable for creating effective self-healing coatings.
• The CZVEx coating provides excellent corrosion protection for carbon steel through autonomous repair mechanisms.
• This technology offers a viable approach for enhancing the longevity and performance of coated materials.