Self-assembled graphene oxide microcapsules in Pickering emulsions for photo-responsive self-healing epoxy coatings

In regard to the nonfatal harm self-healing of natural species, microcapsule-based polymeric materials for self-healing have been considered to be highly desirable in light of their ability to heal cracks in significant volumes, leaving the original chemical structures of polymers unchanged. Accordingly, this study sought to design a one-component photo-responsive self-healing polymer composite based on Bisphenol A epoxy acrylate resin @graphene oxide microcapsules (BAEA@GOMCs) that are capable of photo-absorption in order to reduce difficulties of processing and inhomogeneous distributions of the two components. Embedding of BAEA@GOMCs were carried out in waterborne epoxy matrix, and self-healing composite coatings were generated onto surfaces of hot-dip steel via galvanization. Upon incurring mechanical damage, solidification of the agents of photo-responsive healing and the flowing the cracks were achieved as the agents were exposed to light to achieve self-healing. In addition, the solidification within the unbroken microcapsules was maintained, and there were continuous no reactions. Given the simplicity of the proposed preparation, incorporating light-absorbing particles into the microcapsule shell can further broaden the application range of the aforementioned common materials.