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Highly efficient photothermal self-healing polyurethane coating reinforced by CF PDA Cu 2O nanocomposite
A polyurethane coating enhanced with a multifunctional nanocomposite achieves outstanding wear resistance, corrosion protection, and rapid photothermal self-healing. The innovative system, developed by a Chinese research team, autonomously repairs surface damage within two minutes.
Marine splash zones are among the most demanding environments for coating systems. Polyurethane coatings, although chemically durable, are prone to damage and difficult to maintain. To overcome these limitations, researchers created a polyurethane matrix reinforced with a multifunctional nanofiller composed of carbon fibres (CF), polydopamine (PDA), and cuprous oxide (Cu₂O). This composite effectively improves thermal conductivity and photothermal response.
Owing to its photothermal efficiency, the CF@PDA@Cu₂O-filled polyurethane coating can self-repair damaged regions within 120 seconds of light exposure. Mechanical testing showed a significant reduction in friction coefficient—from 0.212 for the pure PU to 0.125 for the reinforced variant—demonstrating remarkable wear resistance.
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Long-term protection and microstructural insights
Electrochemical testing revealed that the enhanced coating achieved corrosion resistance of 10⁹ Ω·cm², maintaining this level even after 90 days of immersion. Molecular dynamics simulations further clarified that polydopamine improves the dispersion of carbon fibres within the matrix, enhancing adhesion, flexibility and the uniformity of the composite structure.
The study highlights how the integration of photothermal functionality with mechanical reinforcement can lead to coatings capable of self-healing, with improved durability and reduced maintenance costs. Such systems offer promising prospects for marine, offshore and industrial protection applications.
Source: Wang, X. et al. Highly efficient photothermal self-healing wear-resistant and anti-corrosion coating reinforced by CF@PDA@Cu₂O nanocomposite. Progress in Organic Coatings, Volume 207, 109393 (2025).
