Dr Beatriz Mingo - University of Manchester

Dr Mingo works on the development of environmentally-friendly, multifunctional surface treatments for corrosion protection and lifetime extension of lightweight components. This would be used in energy-efficient vehicles and support a sustainable consumption of resources.

Surface treatments are widely applied to improve the performance and maximise the working life of light alloys. Traditional passive coatings only act as a physical barrier against the environment and, once damaged, they no longer provide protection. Smart coatings can interact with the environment, responding selectively to certain triggers, such as mechanical fracture, temperature, or pH variations. Depending on the incorporated functionality, different properties can be achieved, such as specific corrosion inhibition or self-healing. Up to now, this technology has primarily been implemented in organic coatings, but these are not typically capable of withstanding high temperatures or abrasive environments, such as those found in the vehicle’s engine, aeroplane’s landing gear, or helicopter’s rotor system.

Dr Mingo’s work involves an innovative approach to developing multifunctional ceramic coatings, which present excellent physical and chemical stability at high temperatures, and exceptional performance in aggressive environments. The multifunctionalisation relies on the combination of the long-term wear protection of the ceramic, with the incorporation of nanocontainer encapsulated inhibitors that offer corrosion protection on demand. The inhibitors are released into the media pH changes from electrochemical activity are detected. These act locally at the anodic and cathodic sites inhibiting corrosion propagation.