Azadirachta indica (Neem) self-healing efficacy assessment in epoxy primer coatings: A bio-responsive strategy for counteracting corrosion

The active anticorrosion performance of epoxy coatings containing encapsulated crude vegetal extracts of Azadirachta indica (Neem) leaves to protect aluminium alloy 6061 in seawater was investigated. Ethanol and hexane were the loading solvents. The molecules-metal interaction alongside the formation of an anticorrosive film of the defective coatings was evaluated using electrochemical techniques while adjusting the pH of the seawater. The unloaded scratched epoxy coating was the comparison. In the alkaline chloride solution, the hybrid coatings exhibited better anticorrosion via extrinsic self-healing. XPS validated the composition and chemical species of the bionanocomposites.