Furan-functionalized aniline trimer based self-healing polymers exhibiting high efficiency of anticorrosion

An aniline trimer derivative possessing multiple furan groups (TFAT) is prepared and used as a building unit for preparation of self-healing anticorrosion coatings. The aniline trimer unit brings electrochemical activity to TFAT, and the tertiary amine and glycidylether groups provide TFAT excellent adhesive ability. Both features contribute to the high performance of anticorrosion property of crosslinked TFAT coatings on cold-rolled steel (CRS). An ultralow corrosion rate of 0.12 mm y(-1) and a high impedance at low frequency (Z(0)) of 9.2 x 10(5) Omega cm(-2) have been recorded with the coatings, both demonstrate hundreds times enhancements of the anticorrosion properties compared to the CRS samples coated with crosslinked aniline trimer (corrosion rate: 71 mm y(-1); Z(0): 1240 Omega cm(-2)). Moreover, as possessing furan groups, TFAT is a suitable agent to react with multifunctional maleimide compounds for formation of thermally-reversible crosslinked networks through Diels-Alder reaction. Consequently, TFAT-based self-healing anticorrosion coatings are obtained. In a cycle test, the TFAT-based reversible crosslinked coating demonstrates a high self-healing efficiency of anticorrosion with a recovery of protection efficiency from 79.8% to 99.2%, corresponding to a 99.3% of protection efficiency based recovery. A new material showing high anticorrosion and self-healing efficiency for self-healing anticorrosion coatings has been demonstrated. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.