Microwave-Assisted Self-Healable Biovitrimer/rGO Framework for Anticorrosion Applications

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Corrosion Science

Background:

• Developing advanced protective coatings is crucial for extending material lifespan.
• Smart polymeric materials offer unique self-healing and responsive functionalities.
• Corrosion remains a significant challenge across various industries.

Purpose of the Study:

• To engineer microwave-stimulated, self-healable polymeric coatings for superior corrosion protection.
• To investigate the self-healing and shape memory properties of novel epoxy composites.
• To evaluate the thermomechanical, hydrophobic, and anticorrosive performance of the developed material.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of linseed oil-derived epoxy composites embedded with reduced graphene oxide (rGO).
• Microwave irradiation to trigger self-healing and shape memory effects via disulfide bond exchange.
• Characterization of thermomechanical properties, thermal stability, and surface hydrophobicity.
• Corrosion protection efficiency assessment using Tafel plot analysis.

Main Results:

• The composite exhibited excellent self-healing and shape memory properties upon microwave stimulation.
• Improved thermomechanical properties (storage modulus 20.8 GPa) and thermal stability were observed.
• High corrosion protection efficiency (99.9%) and excellent hydrophobicity (131° contact angle) were achieved.
• Fast disulfide dynamic exchange reaction indicated by low activation energy (79 kJ/mol).

Conclusions:

• Microwave-stimulated smart polymeric coatings demonstrate significant potential for advanced corrosion protection.
• The developed composite offers a promising solution for durable and self-healing anticorrosive applications.
• This research contributes to the field of smart materials engineering for protective coatings.