Developments in smart anticorrosive coatings with multifunctional characteristics

Smart coatings are innovative coatings that can react spontaneously, due to inbuilt stimuli-responsive mechanisms. The functionality obtained from these class of coatings at the metal-solution interface in aggressive environments has led to advances in anticorrosion studies and applications. This review emphasizes the effects of corrosion sensing, self-healing, anti-fouling, and self-cleaning coatings for corrosion inhibition of metallic materials. However, in keeping with the theme, novel coating designs with anticorrosive characteristics that outweigh the limitations in the use of conventional coatings have been discussed. Noting that the presence of high quality nanoparticles in coating formulations has outweighed the effects of the microparticles. These have triggered unprecedented functionalities in the smart coatings. The smart coatings respond to single/multiple external stimuli such as light, dirt, pH changes, temperature, aggressive liquids, bio-foulant, impact, fatigue etc; and have demonstrated outstanding, barrier properties with scratch resistance, in-situ healing, superhydrophobicity, superoleophilicity, high optical transmission, thermal stability, and resistance to strong acids etc., resulting in extended service life of the coatings and the protected metallic materials. The utilization of smart coatings in complex, real-time conditions, effectively controls the triggers of metallic degradation, structural failures, and resource depletion.