Key Takeaways & Executive Findings
- •• • Achieved superhydrophobicity with a water contact angle of 153°, reducing water adhesion and delaying icing by ~23× compared to bare AZ31B Mg alloy, critical for anti-icing in aerospace. • • Corrosion current density reduced to 1.294 × 10⁻⁹ A·cm⁻², four orders of magnitude lower than bare Mg alloy, via synergistic passive barrier and active La inhibitor release, extending service life. • • Solar absorption ~80% and photothermal surface temperature of 61 °C under 1.0 sun, enabling passive solar anti-icing by preventing supercooled droplet accumulation. • • Fast self-healing rate of ~0.34 cm·s⁻¹ under NIR irradiation, recovering anti-corrosion and anti-icing functions after physical damage, reducing maintenance downtime.
Abstract
Corrosion and icing critically threaten the service safety of magnesium (Mg) alloys in aerospace and transportation industries. Although superhydrophobic coatings offer effective anti-corrosion and anti-icing functions, they are limited by susceptibility to failure due to physical damage or capillary condensation. Here, a multifunctional integrated coating (SAAS) is reported, which endows coated Mg alloys with excellent superhydrophobicity, active anti-corrosion performance, anti-icing properties, and fast self-healing capabilities. Layered double hydroxide (LDH) modified and intercalated with sodium laurate (La) acts as nanoreservoirs, releasing La corrosion inhibitors via an anion-exchange process to retard corrosion. Incorporation of MXene provides full-spectrum high absorption and efficient photothermal conversion, achieving a surface temperature of 61 °C under 1.0 sun illumination, which prevents adhesion and accumulation of supercooled droplets. Near-infrared (NIR) irradiation induces macromolecular chain migration and phase transition, enabling fast self-healing of coating damage. The SAAS coating exhibits a water contact angle of 153°, a corrosion current density of 1.294 × 10⁻⁹ A·cm⁻² (four orders of magnitude lower than bare Mg alloy), an icing delay time approximately 23 times longer than the substrate, and a healing rate of about 0.34 cm·s⁻¹ under NIR. This study provides a novel strategy for enhancing aircraft skin durability and offers insights into multifunctional coating design.
1. Introduction
Magnesium alloys are indispensable in aerospace and transportation due to their high strength-to-weight ratio, yet their high corrosion susceptibility and hydrophilic nature lead to moisture accumulation, corrosion, and ice formation, risking catastrophic failures. Conventional superhydrophobic coatings provide passive protection but fail under harsh conditions due to physical damage or capillary condensation, which compromises their long-term efficacy.
This work addresses these bottlenecks by integrating superhydrophobicity, active corrosion inhibition, solar anti-icing, and fast self-healing into a single SAAS coating. The design leverages La-LDH nanoreservoirs for active inhibitor release and MXene for photothermal conversion, achieving robust multifunctionality. The coating not only passively repels water but actively heals scratches under NIR, restoring protective functions, thus overcoming the durability limitations of existing coatings.
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Qiang Li, Liying Su, Qian Zhang, Zhijie Zhang, Xiaotao Wang, Zhihong Zhao, Xiaohu Wu, Yanghui Wang, Yingfeng Gao, Shuang Ben, Yuzhen Ning, Kesong Liu (2026). Superhydrophobic, Active Anti-Corrosion, and Solar Anti-Icing Coating with Fast Self-Healing Properties. SinoTechIntel Verified Research. https://doi.org/10.26599/NR.2026.94908686
Research & Educational Purpose Only:The translations, structured abstracts, analytical annotations, and data reports provided by SinoTechIntel are intended exclusively for academic research, internal corporate R&D, and educational benchmarking. They do not constitute formal engineering, chemical safety, legal, or professional advice.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the mechanism of active corrosion inhibition in the SAAS coating, and how does it compare to passive barrier protection?
The SAAS coating employs La-LDH nanoreservoirs that release pre-stored La corrosion inhibitors via an anion-exchange process when corrosive ions (e.g., Cl⁻) penetrate. This active release supplements the passive barrier provided by the superhydrophobic surface, resulting in a corrosion current density of 1.294 × 10⁻⁹ A·cm⁻², four orders of magnitude lower than bare Mg alloy. The dual action ensures prolonged protection even if the physical barrier is compromised.
How does the photothermal effect contribute to anti-icing, and what are the operational limits?
The MXene component provides ~80% solar absorption, raising the surface temperature to 61 °C under 1.0 sun illumination. This photothermal effect prevents the adhesion and accumulation of supercooled droplets by maintaining the surface above freezing. The performance is dependent on solar irradiance; under lower light conditions, the effect diminishes, but the superhydrophobic nature still delays icing by ~23× compared to bare substrate.
What is the self-healing mechanism under NIR irradiation, and how does it restore anti-corrosion and anti-icing properties?
NIR irradiation induces migration of macromolecular chains and phase transition in the coating, allowing physical damage (e.g., scratches) to be repaired. The healing rate is ~0.34 cm·s⁻¹, and after healing, the coating recovers its superhydrophobicity and barrier properties, as evidenced by restored anti-corrosion and anti-icing performance. This rapid healing minimizes downtime and extends coating lifespan.
How does the SAAS coating's anti-corrosion performance compare to existing commercial coatings for Mg alloys?
The SAAS coating achieves a corrosion current density of 1.294 × 10⁻⁹ A·cm⁻², which is four orders of magnitude lower than bare Mg alloy. This is superior to many conventional superhydrophobic coatings that rely solely on passive barrier effects, as the active inhibitor release provides additional protection. However, direct comparison with specific commercial products requires standardized testing under identical conditions.
What are the scalability and practical application challenges for the SAAS coating on aerospace components?
The fabrication involves a heterogeneous hybrid approach, which may be scalable using spray or dip-coating methods. Key challenges include ensuring uniform coating on complex geometries, maintaining performance under extreme temperature and humidity cycles, and achieving cost parity with existing coatings. The reported healing rate and photothermal efficiency suggest potential for field application, but long-term durability and environmental resistance need further validation.
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