COAT4LIFE · Eco-friendly corrosion protective coatings based on smart nanotechnology platforms for a circular economy

Eco-friendly corrosion protective coatings based on smart nanotechnology platforms for a circular economy

The Circular Industrial Economy (CIE) focuses on managing stocks of manufactured assets—such as infrastructure, buildings, vehicles, equipment, and consumer goods—to preserve their value and utility at the highest possible level for the longest possible time. It also aims to maintain resource stocks at their highest purity and value. The primary objective of the COAT4LIFE project was to develop innovative anticorrosion and corrosion-sensing platforms in the form of multifunctional coatings. These were designed to detect and prevent corrosion in metallic structures used in high-performance sectors—particularly aeronautics and offshore—while adhering to sustainable and eco-friendly principles throughout their life cycle. In doing so, COAT4LIFE contributed to extending the service life of metallic structures and infrastructures across various applications, through the development of novel materials and components. This aligns closely with key R&D innovation areas associated with the CIE and the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. COAT4LIFE’s main goals were achieved through the following technical objectives: Integration of emerging corrosion-sensing technologies (TRL 3–4) with advanced anticorrosion nanoadditive systems based on controlled chemical release (TRL >5); Application of machine learning techniques to identify optimal corrosion inhibitors for specific use cases; Modeling and correlating substrate degradation with sensor signal outputs; Formulation and optimization of coatings and pre-treatments, followed by scale-up of the most promising technologies; Environmental assessment of coating components. Additional objectives aligned with the scope of the call were also successfully met, including: 6. Staff exchange and knowledge transfer between research institutions and industry; Training and mobility of researchers; Development of innovation-oriented and entrepreneurial skills among seconded staff. Key outcomes of the project include the development of several coating formulations that combine corrosion detection with active protection additives, tailored for aluminum, magnesium, and steel substrates. The most promising formulations were scaled up, validated, and assessed for environmental impact and life cycle analysis (LCA). Furthermore, machine learning models were created to support the development of anticorrosion additives, and analytical and numerical methods were employed to model coating degradation. In terms of staff exchange, 56 individuals from both academia and industry—including early-stage and experienced researchers—participated in over 124 person-months of secondments. This significantly contributed to effective knowledge transfer among partners and the successful realization of the project’s objectives.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union