The purpose of this paper is to study the release of corrosion inhibitor from nanocontainers and to show that it can be released due to reaction with the substrate induced by corrosion. This is called self‐healing of corrosion. Raman spectroscopy was used to show that reaction after scratching of the surface and corrosion of the substrate.
TiO2 nanocontainers loaded with 8‐hydroxyquinoline (8‐HQ) were placed onto a copper substrate and wetted with in 0.05 M NaCl solution. The Raman spectrum of the modified copper surface was attributed to the Cu(8‐Q)2 compound. The incorporation of loaded nanocontainers into epoxy coatings showed enhanced protection against corrosion. Artificial defects were formed on the coatings in order to evaluate the corrosion process and the possible self‐healing effect. The Raman spectra in the scratch tentatively assigned to Cu(8‐Q)2 compound. This result shows that the enhanced anti‐corrosive properties of the films with loaded nanocontainers can be attributed to the released inhibitor from the nanocontainer.
The authors found that the corrosion of copper substrate induces the release of hydroxyquinoline and formation of a chelate. This is the self‐healing phenomenon.
This can be employed for self‐healing in all structures, such as mechanical properties of bridges, etc.
Damage occurs in all structures: the cost is immense – millions of dollars. Damage also occurs after an earthquake, accidents, etc. Self‐repairing is the key issue in modern science, therefore this article is of great importance.
The originality is that the authors showed, with Raman spectroscopy, that the chemicals in the nanocontainers in the coatings are released by the corrosion induced in the metal. This is the first spectroscopic proof of self‐healing.
