Since White et al. reported the first self-healing polymeric material based on microencapsulated dicyclopentadiene and first-generation Grubbs catalyst,1 new chemistries have been reported. Some of these chemistries include the use of other generations of Grubbs catalysts,2,3 and metathesis catalysts,4 solvent-promoted healing systems,5-7 isocyanates,8,9 silanol condensation,10 hydrosilylation,11 and free radical-initiated polymerization of acrylate monomers,12 to name a few examples. Some of these chemistries have been used to design coatings with significantly improved corrosion resistance, including liquid epoxy coatings,10 zinc-based systems,13 liquid moisture-cured silicone coatings14 and powder coatings.15
As components of coatings, sealants and adhesives, silicone-based materials exhibit exceptional thermal stability, flexibility, elastic modulus and moisture resistance among other properties. These materials, however, rarely exhibit sufficient adhesion in their target applications; and when breached due to damage, moisture ingress and/or germane corrosion undercutting often accelerates adhesion loss at the material/substrate interface. Designing functionality into these materials to facilitate adhesion maintenance after damage will keep them in service longer, creating value for end users by lengthening maintenance cycles, and limiting down time and labor costs over the lifetime of the assets they protect.