Chapter 5: Nanocontainers as Corrosion Inhibitors

Metal corrosion is an electrochemical degradation process whose consequences adversely impact the structural integrities of material structures upon interaction with different environments. To reduce this scourge, recent developments in coating designs have incorporated additives capable of providing stimulus-responsive functionalities toward self-repair and corrosion protection. The encapsulation of inhibitor-loaded nanocontainers within protective coatings provides a new frontier for self-repairing inherent microcracks. It also defines the architecture of surface-altering phases within the internal microstructures of protective oxide films. In this chapter, inhibitor systems of different origins based on nanocontainers loaded with organic and inorganic corrosion inhibitors are discussed, including biomass extracts. The concept of self-healing with inhibitor-loaded nanocontainers is highlighted with factors necessary to achieve higher protection efficiencies with self-healing coating systems. Illustrative summaries of reported studies centering on inhibitors loaded within various smart nanocontainers are also featured.