Hybrid microcapsules reinforced smart coatings for corrosion protection in oil and gas industry

Abstract

Corrosion is one of the critical causes of material loss in metal components. This research is focused on the synthesis, and electrochemical properties of polyelectrolyte layered microcapsules (PMCs) reinforced smart polymeric coating for corrosion protection of steel substrates. For this purpose, monolayer urea-formaldehyde microcapsules encapsulated with linalyl acetate (MLMCs) was synthesized by Insitu polymerization. In the next step, phenylthiourea (PTU) was loaded between the layers of polyelectrolytes; polyethylenimine (PEI) & sulfonated polyether ether ketone (SPEEK) on the surface of MLMCs using layer by layer technique. The MLMCs are sensitive to mechanical stress while the PTU in PMCs is triggered by pH stimulus. The newly designed PMCs has linalyl acetate in the core and PTU in the polyelectrolyte layers. Furthermore, 6 wt.% of both MLMCs and PMCs are dispersed in the epoxy resin and applied on the clean steel substrate. Performance comparison showed that the epoxy resin reinforced with PMCs demonstrate enhanced thermal, self-healing and electrochemical properties. This improved performance can be attributed to the efficient release of the self-healing agent and corrosion inhibitor from the PMCs. Conclusively, the epoxy coatings modified with PMCs can be a novel organic coating for the corrosion protection of oil and gas industries.