Materials Science World Congress

Smart Coatings: Solutions That Transform the Actual Physical Properties of the Material

Smart coatings are a new and progressive type of coating materials that are capable of changing their properties in response to the stimuli in their environment, in addition to the basic functionality of the coatings. Self-healing, hydrophobic, anti-corrosive, or thermally and photoactively switchable, or mechanically changeable and thus irreplaceable in aerospace, automotive, and electronics industries.

Self-healing smart coatings are one of the sophisticated subcategories of smart coatings wherein facilities such as self-repair of scratches or cracks are inherent. Of special benefit here is the ability to track small damages that if not attended to, cause further damages after some time, for instance in the auto industry, construction areas, and machinery. The layers coated with these healing agents, using microcapsules, can protect the surfaces as long as possible without requiring frequent repairs, thereby cutting on costs and time of closure.

Smart coatings that act to prevent rust formation and deterioration are particularly preferred in marine or industrial applications. Some of these coatings can sense corrosion and discharge inhibitors that shield the base material from the menace. This responsive behavior improves the lifespan of the metal structures pipelines and offshore installations as a measure of additional protection.

Besides protection, smart coatings have another remarkable aspect in terms of visualization and applicability. For instance, thermochromic coatings have a special property that alters hue in response to the temperature, photochromic coatings change their transparency in relation to light intensity. These features have been useful in everything from smart windows adaptive fabrics, and wearable electronics where the ability to respond to external conditions is vital.

As industries look for better ways to become more efficient and have lower carbon footprints in today’s global economies, smart coatings are presented as the next big leap in material science. Its flexibility for multi-functional usage and protection is revolutionizing the science of surface engineering, with successfully developing future applications.