Multi-layer and composite corrosion resistant coatings

1 . A corrosion resisting coating for a surface of a metal that is subject to corrosion, the coating comprising:

a first domain comprising a binder polymer; and

a second domain which directly contacts the first domain and which comprises a corrosion-responsive agent that is selected from the group consisting of:

a) a mercapto-substituted organic and dimers, trimers, oligomers, or polymers thereof,

b) a thio-substituted organic and dimers, trimers, oligomers, or polymers thereof,

c) a dimer, trimer, oligomer, or polymer of an organic phosphonic acid or salt or ester thereof,

d) combinations of any of a), b), or c);

e) a salt of a mercapto-substituted organic and an intrinsically conductive polymer,

f) a salt of a thio-substituted organic and an intrinsically conductive polymer; and

h) combinations of any of a)-f).

2 . The coating according to claim 1 , wherein the first domain is substantially free of the corrosion responsive agent.

3 . The coating according to claim 1 , wherein the second domain contains the corrosion responsive agent in an amount that is above the critical pigment volume concentration.

4 . The coating according to claim 1 , further having a chrome conversion coat located between the metal surface and the corrosion resisting coating.

5 . The coating according to claim 1 , further having a layer of poly [bis(2,5-(N,N,N′,N′-tetralkyl)amine)-1,4-phenylene vinylene] (BAMPPV) located between the metal surface and the corrosion resisting coating.

6 . The coating according to claim 1 , wherein the first domain and the second domain are adjacent layers.

7 . The coating according to claim 1 , wherein the first domain and the second domain together form a single layer comprising multiple discrete but touching or overlapping regions of each of the first domain and the second domain.

8 . The coating according to claim 4 , wherein the first domain and the second domain are adjacent layers and wherein the first domain layer is in direct contact with the chrome conversion coat and isolates the chrome conversion coat from the second domain layer which covers the first domain layer.

9 . The coating according to claim 8 , wherein the coating further comprises at least one additional sequence of the first domain layer and the second domain layer and having a topmost layer of the first domain.

10 . The coating according to claim 4 , wherein the first domain and the second domain together form a single layer comprising multiple discrete but touching or overlapping regions of each of the first domain and the second domain and wherein the coating is separated and isolated from the chrome conversion coat by a barrier layer.

10 . The coating according to claim 1 , wherein the corrosion-responsive agent comprises poly(2,5-dimercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole) (polyDMcT).

11 . The coating according to claim 1 , wherein the corrosion-responsive agent comprises the salt of polyaniline and 2,5-dimercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole (PANiDMcT).

12 . A method of protecting a surface of a metal from corrosion, the method comprising applying to the metal:

a formulation which cures to form a first domain comprising a binder polymer; and

a formulation that cures to form a second domain comprising a corrosion-responsive agent that is selected from the group consisting of:

a) a mercapto-substituted organic and dimers, trimers, oligomers, or polymers thereof,

b) a thio-substituted organic and dimers, trimers, oligomers, or polymers thereof,

c) a dimer, trimer, oligomer, or polymer of an organic phosphonic acid or salt or ester thereof,

d) combinations of any of a), b), or c);

e) a salt of a mercapto-substituted organic and an intrinsically conductive polymer,

f) a salt of a thio-substituted organic and an intrinsically conductive polymer; and

h) combinations of any of a)-f);

wherein the application of the liquid formulation which cures to form a first domain comprising a binder polymer and the application of the liquid formulation that cures to form a second domain is sequential or concurrent.

13 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein the metal is selected from iron, steel and aluminum.

14 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein the metal is a copper containing aluminum alloy.

15 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein the applying step comprises applying a chrome conversion coat directly to the metal surface before the application of the corrosion resisting coating.

16 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein the applying step comprises applying a layer of poly [bis(2,5-(N,N,N′,N′-tetralkyl)amine)-1,4-phenylene vinylene] (BAMPPV) directly to the metal surface before the application of the corrosion resisting coating.

17 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein the applying step comprises applying to the metal surface a liquid formulation that cures to form a first domain layer and then applying to the first domain layer a liquid formulation that cures to form a second domain layer.

18 . The method according to claim 17 , further comprising at least one sequence of applying to the second domain layer a liquid formulation that cures to form a first domain layer and then applying to the first domain layer a liquid formulation that cures to form a second domain layer and applying to the last second domain layer a liquid formulation that cures to form a topmost first domain layer.

19 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein the coating is applied by spraying onto the metal surface the liquid formulation which cures to form a first domain and the liquid formulation that cures to form a second domain from separate nozzles directed so that the spray patterns from the two nozzles overlap at the metal surface to form a single layer coating comprising multiple discrete but touching or overlapping regions of each of the first domain and the second domain.

20 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein the applying steps result in the formation of a coating having a thickness between about 0.015 mm and 0.025 mm.