Stretchable and self-healing polyurethane coating with synergistic anticorrosion effect for the corrosion protection of stainless steels

Introduction of inorganic fillers into organic coatings is significant for enhancing mechanical properties and corrosion protection. Herein, we utilized the barrier function of the laminar structure (MXene, Ti3C2) and the inhibition property of the corrosion inhibitor (CeO2) to prepare a MXene/CeO2 polyurethane composite coatings and investigated the corrosion protection performance in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution. Benefiting from the “labyrinth effect” of MXene and the inhibition effect of CeO2, the composite coating exhibits excellent corrosion resistance. What's more, we introduced the DA bonds into the coating to endow it with self-healing property. The results demonstrated that the obtained composite coating could achieve efficient self-healing behavior under sunlight, and its mechanical properties and anti-corrosion properties were basically unaffected after self-healing. Our strategy presents a new approach to protection of coating for metal substrates and provides the basis for a multi-mechanism synergistic approach to corrosion protection. •CeO2/MXene composite coating can be used as a synergistic anti-corrosion protection layer.•PCM composite coating exhibits sunlight-triggered self-healing property based on DA reversible bonds.•The anti-corrosion performance of PCM2 could be maintained above 108 Ω cm2 after immersion for 60 days.