Triple-function smart anticorrosion composite coating based on graphene and ZIF-8 with excellent pH-responsive self-healing and in vitro antimicrobial properties

Endowing composite coatings with robust anticorrosion properties for metal substrates in intricate corrosive environments, such as conferring self-healing and antibacterial capabilities through the integration of multifunctional nanofillers, constitutes a pivotal approach in the advancement of efficient anticorrosive coatings. In this study, a triple-functional anticorrosion coating entailed the simultaneous integration of graphene oxide (PG) with antibacterial capability, and BTA@ZIF-8/PM (PZ) with self-healing performance, into a waterborne epoxy (PGZ/WEP). The logarithm of the lowest frequency impedance modulus of PGZ/WEP demonstrated a notable value of 8.2 Ω cm 2 following a 28 days immersion in simulated seawater, indicating an escalation of approximately 2.7 orders of magnitude compared to that the reference of WEP. For the antibacterial capabilities of coatings, an enhanced antibacterial rate ( R ) of up to 55.9 % was observed. Moreover, an in-depth analysis was undertaken to explain the underlying anticorrosion, self-healing, and antibacterial mechanisms of composite coatings. In conclusion, the PGZ/WEP composite coating manifests self-healing, antibacterial, and anticorrosive functionalities, thereby demonstrating exceptional adaptability to intricate corrosion-prone environments.