Phys.org February 21, 2023
An international team of researchers (Switzerland, Italy) has developed a plastic, Poly(phenylene methylene) PPM for short, that could greatly improve and simplify corrosion protection. When mixed as paint and heated, PPM can be sprayed onto a surface and becomes solid. The polymer indicates holes and cracks in the protective layer by failing to fluoresce and it repairs any damage itself without further external intervention and has high thermal stability. At the end of a product’s life, the polymer can be completely removed and recycled with only minimal material loss. The recycled polymer can then be applied to another surface with no loss in its special properties and functions. In laboratory tests a PPM-based coating protected metals, especially aluminum, it was durable, seals any damage to the coating by itself. In tests, the researchers were able to reuse the material five times and it can be recycled. PPM corrosion protection is not completely harmless to the environment, but with the right approach damaged can be limited… read more. Open Access TECHNICAL ARTICLEÂ
Fluorescent corrosion protection on a metal plate. Credit: Marco D’Elia / ETH Zurich