5S Multifunctional Intelligent Coating with Superdurable, Superhydrophobic, Self-Monitoring, Self-Heating, and Self-Healing Properties for Existing Construction Application

There is a constant drive to develop ultra-high-performance multifunctional coatings for existing construction used in modern engineering technologies. For these materials to be used in unsound infrastructure protections, they are required to present enhanced robustness while bearing functionalities to meet multiple uses. Single-function coating is not smart enough to provide satisfactory protection, and the preparation process of multifunctional materials is complex, costly, and provides poor durability. Thus, existing coatings are not suitable to generate an intelligent closed-loop protection system. Herein, we report an innovative 5S multifunctional intelligent coating (5SC) for existing construction materials with superdurable, superhydrophobic, self-monitoring, self-heating, and self-healing properties. The 5SC material showed highly durable superhydrophobic properties as revealed by the main failure tests of building materials including physical friction (abrasion, scratching), 100% tensile strain, photoaging (3000 h of ultraviolet (UV) aging), acid corrosion (concentrated hydrochloric acid and sulfuric acid), and freeze–thaw aging (salty solution). The coated surface was highly sensitive to pressure, with monitoring thresholds from 1 to 30 000 N per 0.01 m2. It showed an early heating rate as high as 6 °C/min while maintaining very good self-monitoring and ice-melting drainage performance to protect the existing structures. This novel composite material is suitable for constructions in extreme areas where corrosion and freeze–thaw damage can occur. This multifunctional material presents a very broad range of applications and development potential in the construction field.