Material circumstances: polymers with self-healing effect have been created in the Russian Federation

Russian scientists have developed new materials that have the property of self-healing and are useful as anticorrosive coatings. They will help to increase the protective characteristics of polymers, namely, self—healing at the microlevel under conditions of natural use of objects in aggressive environments. They will be in demand in such areas as the energy sector, including nuclear power plants, the chemical industry, the oil and gas industry, the aerospace industry and construction. For more information about polymers that can "repair" themselves at the micro level, see the Izvestia article.

Smart properties of materials

The NTI Center "Digital Materials Science: New Materials and Substances" of the Bauman Moscow State Technical University in cooperation with the Institute of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry The Russian Academy of Sciences has created "smart" polymer coatings that can independently adapt to difficult operating conditions. Their use will increase the service life of various products and devices.

In fact, such materials are able to "repair" themselves at the micro level in case of damage, for example, microcracks, which over time can lead to corrosion or structural failure. This not only increases the service life of the coatings, but also protects the equipment without the need for frequent maintenance.

— The creation of "self-healing" materials is still at an early stage of development, they have great potential and application possibilities, especially in cases where it is necessary to ensure reliability for as long as possible in hard-to-reach areas. One of the most promising areas for improving anticorrosive coatings is the development of new special materials with specified electrochemical properties and technologies for the production of composites and their components," said Vyacheslav Shchelkov, Head of the IFHE Laboratory.

The expert named the energy sector as the main areas of application, including nuclear power plants, the chemical industry, the oil and gas industry, the aerospace industry and construction, that is, where anti-corrosion protection of the metal surface of technological equipment and products operating in aggressive environments is important. Aggressive media include acids, alkalis, saline solutions and water-organic mixtures, the specialist recalled. He noted that the materials are particularly effective for equipment subject to intense wear and corrosion, such as pipelines, tanks, pumps and valves.

— The creation of "smart" materials remains one of the key areas. The solution to this problem involves, at a minimum, a local restructuring of the structure of polymer composite materials that are used in aggressive environments," said Rinad Zalavutdinov, Deputy Director of the Institute of Physics and Technology for Scientific Work, Candidate of Physico—Mathematical Sciences.

According to him, the technology uses inhibitors capable of blocking internal defects with insoluble corrosion products. They provide additional crosslinking of the polymer base, the formation of insoluble compounds in the defect zones and the release of corrosion inhibitors.

Where new polymers will be useful

Such materials have enhanced protection methods and the ability to self-heal at the micro level. This allows for improved protection in places that are difficult or impossible to reach during operation.: These are both parts of power plants and space rockets. They better compensate for the negative impact of the environment, which is important for long-term operation, and also increase the wear resistance of key systems, said Anton Averyanov, CEO of the ST IT Group of companies, TechNet NTI market expert.

According to Ruslan Permyakov, Deputy director of the NTI competence center "Technologies of Trusted Interaction" based on TUSUR, self-healing in polymer materials is most in demand in cases of damage caused by mechanical impact. A defect in the microcrack level can lead to problems on a broader scale, so that the "self-healing" of microcracks becomes a reliable protection against the formation of macrocracks and remains the most urgent task of polymer materials science, he noted.

— Chemical components with special properties can autonomously or non-autonomously reduce the destruction of the source material and contribute to a faster and more complete "healing" of the defect. The predicted effect of creating "smart" polymer composites will be to extend the life of products, structures and structures exposed to constant or periodic exposure to aggressive environments. With the development and cheapening of technologies for creating self—healing materials, they will increasingly be introduced into production in order to improve their protective properties and extend their service life," the specialist added.

Pipelines are often exposed to temperature fluctuations, corrosion, and high pressure. Over time, this causes cracks and damage to the coating, which can lead to accidents. If such materials are used, they will be able to partially recover at the structural level, slowing down the development of defects. This will reduce the risk of breakdowns and reduce the need to stop work for repairs, says Daniil Arzhakov, an IT expert at Synergy University.

— In the aerospace industry, where equipment operates under heavy loads (sudden temperature changes, shocks and vibrations), even minor damage to the hull can be dangerous, especially if it is a satellite or a deep space vehicle where it is impossible to repair the structure quickly. In addition, such materials will be useful in construction, especially in difficult climatic conditions — for example, in the Far North or in coastal areas, where concrete and metal structures are rapidly destroyed. A coating based on these materials will allow them to maintain their condition longer, reducing maintenance costs. Such technologies are actively developing all over the world, and the fact that Russia has reached this level indicates serious progress in domestic materials science," he added.

Currently, the field of self-healing composite materials is actively developing in leading countries and major global companies, as evidenced by numerous publications and patents. Most of the citations of publications and patents on this issue relate to the United States and China, the press service of the Bauman Moscow State Technical University noted.