Chemistry of adaptive polymer-based protective coatings for harsh environments: chemical aging, anticorrosion, antifouling, and self-healing design
- 1Qi S.r.l. , ,
Abstract
Polymer-based protective coatings are moving from passive barriers toward adaptive chemical interfaces that regulate transport, adhesion, inhibitor release, fouling resistance and damage recovery under harsh service conditions. This review examines organic and polymer-rich coatings designed for corrosive, marine, humid, acidic, alkaline and biologically active environments from a polymer and surface chemistry perspective. Epoxy, polyurethane, acrylic, siloxane, catechol-containing, zwitterionic, hydrogel-like and bio-derived coatings are discussed as platforms in which network architecture, crosslink density, wet adhesion, free volume, interfacial polarity and surface hydration determine long-term performance. Selected graphitic-polymer studies are used as metrology and corrosive-aging precedents, while the main evidence base is the international literature on active anticorrosion, nanocontainer release, dynamic covalent and supramolecular self-healing, antifouling surfaces and accelerated validation. The unique contribution is a failure-sequence and evidence-hierarchy framework linking barrier degradation, inhibitor release, self-healing and antifouling into a single validation logic. The review argues that adaptive coatings should not be evaluated only by initial impedance, water contact angle, corrosion current or scratch closure. Their value depends on whether protective function is retained after coupled aging, mechanical damage, electrolyte exposure, fouling pressure and repeated wet-dry or UV-salt-humidity cycling.
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BibTeX
@article{bellucci2026chemistry,
title = {{Chemistry of adaptive polymer-based protective coatings for harsh environments: chemical aging, anticorrosion, antifouling, and self-healing design}},
author = {Stefano Bellucci},
journal = {Frontiers in chemistry},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fchem.2026.1910772},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13728496},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Chemistry of adaptive polymer-based protective coatings for harsh environments: chemical aging, anticorrosion, antifouling, and self-healing design
AU - Stefano Bellucci
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/20
JO - Frontiers in chemistry
DO - 10.3389/fchem.2026.1910772
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13728496
AB - Polymer-based protective coatings are moving from passive barriers toward adaptive chemical interfaces that regulate transport, adhesion, inhibitor release, fouling resistance and damage recovery under harsh service conditions. This review examines organic and polymer-rich coatings designed for corrosive, marine, humid, acidic, alkaline and biologically active environments from a polymer and surface chemistry perspective. Epoxy, polyurethane, acrylic, siloxane, catechol-containing, zwitterionic, hydrogel-like and bio-derived coatings are discussed as platforms in which network architecture, crosslink density, wet adhesion, free volume, interfacial polarity and surface hydration determine long-term performance. Selected graphitic-polymer studies are used as metrology and corrosive-aging precedents, while the main evidence base is the international literature on active anticorrosion, nanocontainer release, dynamic covalent and supramolecular self-healing, antifouling surfaces and accelerated validation. The unique contribution is a failure-sequence and evidence-hierarchy framework linking barrier degradation, inhibitor release, self-healing and antifouling into a single validation logic. The review argues that adaptive coatings should not be evaluated only by initial impedance, water contact angle, corrosion current or scratch closure. Their value depends on whether protective function is retained after coupled aging, mechanical damage, electrolyte exposure, fouling pressure and repeated wet-dry or UV-salt-humidity cycling.
SN - 2296-2646
ER -