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Multifunctional MXene coating offers anti-icing and self-healing
Researchers have developed a multifunctional polyurethane coating combining polydopamine-modified MXene with a Diels-Alder reversible network. The hybrid system delivers anti-icing performance, long-term corrosion protection and photothermally triggered self-healing for metal substrates in polar environments.
Polar equipment operates under harsh conditions of low temperature, high humidity and high salinity, where icing and metal corrosion pose persistent challenges. A research team has developed a multifunctional coating combining anti-icing, anti-corrosion and self-healing capabilities to address this need. The strategy is based on PDA@Ti₃C₂Tx composites, prepared through oxidative self-assembly of polydopamine (PDA) on the surface of the MXene phase Ti₃C₂Tx. The catechol and amino groups of PDA enhance both interfacial adhesion and photothermal conversion efficiency.
A flexible polyurethane (PU) matrix was constructed using hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI), polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), 2,5-bis(aminomethyl)furan and bismaleimide (BMI). The PDA@Ti₃C₂Tx filler was covalently linked to the polyurethane network through 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (KH550), yielding a highly compatible composite coating designated PUKT.
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Anti-icing and corrosion barrier performance
The freezing time of water droplets on the PUKT surface was prolonged by 208 s compared with pure PU, and accumulated ice layers detached within 325 s under 0.5 sun illumination. At -20 °C, the coating cleared ice within 290 s. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and distribution of relaxation time analysis confirmed that the coating effectively blocks corrosive media at both room and low temperatures. The strong interfacial bonding of the two-dimensional lamellar MXene structure with the metal substrate further enhances corrosion protection, with effective performance maintained at 4 °C even after scratching.
Photothermally triggered self-healing
The coating exploits the reversible Diels-Alder reaction network embedded in the polymer matrix to achieve damage self-healing within 300 s under light exposure, driven by the efficient photothermal conversion of PDA@Ti₃C₂Tx. According to the authors, this integrated approach combining anti-icing, anti-corrosion and self-healing functions in a single coating offers a promising strategy for the long-term protection of metallic infrastructure operating in polar and other extreme environments.
Source: Sun, Q., Du, C. & Wang, W., Multifunctional PDA@Ti₃C₂Tx/PU coatings with integrated anti-icing, anti-corrosion, and photothermally triggered self-healing performance for metal protection. Progress in Organic Coatings (2026), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.porgcoat.2026.110053.
