Bio-based self-healing coatings based on thermo-reversible Diels-Alder reaction

 
Our approach aims to improve the sustainability of coatings in threefold addressing each of the phases of the product life-cycle. At the stage of production sustainability is increased by using mainly bio-based diethylitaconate. In the subsequent stage the self-healing capability of coatings improves their lifetime as scratches and sites of damage can easily be repaired with simple heat treatment. The heat treatment temporarily reverses the inter-chain linkages established between furfuryl and maleimide groups through the Diels-Alder reaction. Lastly, in the stage after product disposal, it is the same thermo-reversible nature of the crosslinks that allows a thermoset-like polymer network as if it were a classical thermoplastic.