Smart coatings on magnesium alloys in transportation industries

Abstract Magnesium alloys are highly applicable in transportation industries owing to their excellent mechanical properties and high strength-to-weight ratio. Light-weight vehicles have the advantage of saving energy consumption accompanied by gas emission reduction. Unfortunately, magnesium materials are highly reactive and susceptible to natural deterioration. In this respect, coating is one of the most effective procedures for protecting materials against corrosion, yet they can be mechanically damaged and lose their efficacy. This chapter reviews the types and development of smart coatings for magnesium alloys in transportation industries. These intelligent coatings can heal their damages by themselves without external interventions when they are subjected to environmental stimuli. Smart coatings can be designed by two regimes, namely direct doping of inhibitors into coatings and encapsulation of inhibitors into the micro or nanocontainers that are uniformly distributed in the coating matrix. Micro- or nanocapsules have different types including organic polymers, inorganic clays, mesoporous silica nanoparticles, and polyelectrolyte multilayers.