Coating for leak detection and method

1. A method for detecting a fluid leak comprising:

applying to a surface a coating comprising a polymer and a catalyst that catalyzes a reaction with the polymer and fluid from the fluid leak to produce an odorant;

allowing the coating to become exposed to the fluid; and

detecting the odorant.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the polymer and catalyst are chemically bonded to each other before allowing the coating to become exposed to the fluid.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fluid comprises hydrogen gas or methanol.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the catalyst comprises palladium or a compound having palladium.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the polymer comprises a polymer backbone and a side chain attached to the polymer backbone, wherein at least part of the side chain detaches from the polymer and the odorant forms from the detached portion of the side chain.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the polymer is of the formula

wherein P is a polymer backbone and X is chosen from an isobutyrate group or a group of the formula

or —NH(CH 2 ) 4 NH 2 or —NH(CH 2 ) 5 NH 2 .

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the polymer backbone P comprises a polymer backbone and a side chain attached to the polymer backbone, wherein the odorant forms from the polymer backbone.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the polymer backbone comprises olefins, wherein the side chain reacts with fluid and thereafter detaches from the polymer and forms a catalyst that reacts with polymer backbone and fluid to depolymerize the polymer backbone and form odorant molecules or odorant molecule precursors from the polymer backbone.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the polymer is of the formula

wherein n is an integer greater than 1 and R is selected independently from aryl and alkyl having 1 to 20 carbons.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein said coating further comprises a chemical that produces a detectable color change as a result of an acid-base reaction after the coating is exposed to the fluid.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the chemical that produces a detectable color change comprises an acid-base indicator.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein said coating further comprises a chemical that produces a detectable color change as a result of a redox reaction after the coating is exposed to the fluid.