Self-healing hybrid nanocomposite coatings with encapsulated organic corrosion inhibitors

To improve the protective properties of sol-gel-derived hybrid coatings against corrosion, encapsulated corrosion inhibitors (2-mercaptobenzothiazole (MBT) and 2-mercaptobenzimidazole (MBI)) were incorporated into hybrid coatings in the presence of alpha-cyclodextrin (alpha-CD). The encapsulation of corrosion inhibitors occurs through the formation of an inclusion complex between alpha-CD and corrosion inhibitors, which become active in corrosive electrolytes and can slowly diffuse out of the host material to ensure continuous delivery of the inhibitors to corrosion sites and long-term corrosion protection. Structural characterization of the hybrid coatings was performed using EIS, SEM coupled with EDX, and FTIR.