Effect of thermal aging on responsive polymer coatings used for temperature monitoring in e-vehicles

Abstract Herein, the impact of aging on polyurethane-based coatings containing either 1,1′-azobis(cyclohexanecarbonitrile) (ABCN) or 2,2′-azobis(isobutyronitrile) (AIBN) as thermo-responsive additives is comprehensively studied. Inspired by previous research that demonstrated the ability of these thermo-sensitive polymers to release tracer gases at critical temperatures as an earlier failure detection system, this work focuses on their thermal stability over time. The research evaluates how aging affects the coatings’ gas-release functionality at specific temperature thresholds, highlighting that the long-term stability of the coatings is significantly influenced by the choice of additive, with ABCN demonstrating better retention of its functionality under aging conditions. These findings offer valuable insight into the long-term performance and reliability of thermo-responsive coatings in safety applications. Graphical abstract