Tick-inspired, self-healing, and strongly-adhesive coatings with biodegradability and phosphorus-free fire retardancy

doi:10.1016/j.jmst.2025.10.003

J. Mater. Sci. Technol. ›› 2026, Vol. 260: 229-240.DOI: 10.1016/j.jmst.2025.10.003

• Research Article • Previous Articles Next Articles

Tick-inspired, self-healing, and strongly-adhesive coatings with biodegradability and phosphorus-free fire retardancy

Wang Cheng^a,b, Huo Siqi^c,*, Ye Guofeng^a, Cao Cheng-Fei^d, Hong Min^c, Pan Ye-Tang^e, Song Pingan^f, Wang Hao^c, Wang Tielin^b, Liu Zhitian^a,*

^aHubei Engineering Technology Research Center of Optoelectronic and New Energy Materials, Hubei Key Laboratory of Plasma Chemistry and Advanced Materials, School of Materials Science & Engineering, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan 430205, China;
^bKey Laboratory of Green Chemical Process of Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Novel Reactor and Green Chemical Technology, School of Chemical Engineering and Pharmacy, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan 430205, China;
^cSchool of Engineering, Centre for Future Materials, University of Southern Queensland, Springfield 4300, Australia;
^dSchool of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, Australia;
^eNational Engineering Research Center of Flame Retardant Materials, School of Materials Science & Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China;
^fSchool of Agriculture and Environmental Science, Centre for Future Materials, University of Southern Queensland, Springfield 4300, Australia

Received:2025-06-20 Revised:2025-09-22 Accepted:2025-10-06 Published:2026-07-20 Online:2025-10-13
Contact: *E-mail addresses: sqhuo@hotmail.com , Siqi.Huo@unisq.edu.au (S. Huo), able.ztliu@wit.edu.cn (Z. Liu)

Abstract

Abstract: Although widely applied in diverse industries, conventional fire-retardant coatings generally suffer from poor adhesion and fire protection. These coatings are typically phosphorus-containing and non-recyclable, making their waste prone to causing environmental issues, e.g., bioaccumulation and (micro)plastic pollution. Inspired by the multi-non-covalent adhesion mechanism of ticks, we designed a strongly adhesive and self-healing coating (DCNC/40PEN) with superior fire protection by incorporating hydrogen bonding, π-π stacking, and cation-π interactions. Incorporating these interactions into a dynamic covalent network further imparts closed-loop recyclability and biodegradability to the coating. DCNC/40PEN can adhere to diverse substrates and self-heal at room temperature due to the non-covalent and covalent interactions within its structure. DCNC/40PEN features closed-loop recyclability and biodegradation because of its dynamic covalent network. Owing to the catalytic and crosslinking carbonization of sulfonate and Schiff base groups, phosphorus-free DCNC/40PEN delivers exceptional fire protection for various materials, e.g., wood, polymer foams, and steel. At a coating thickness of 100 μm, DCNC/40PEN significantly increased the limiting oxygen index and vertical combustion (UL-94) rating of wood to 35.0 % and V-0. The multifunctionality and sustainability of DCNC/40PEN enable it to outperform commercial and reported fire-retardant coatings and adhesives. This work presents an innovative design strategy for the next generation of sustainable, versatile fire-retardant coatings, accelerating “green” development.

Key words: Vitrimer coating, Phosphorus-free fire retardancy, Strong adhesion, Sustainability

Wang Cheng, Huo Siqi, Ye Guofeng, Cao Cheng-Fei, Hong Min, Pan Ye-Tang, Song Pingan, Wang Hao, Wang Tielin, Liu Zhitian. Tick-inspired, self-healing, and strongly-adhesive coatings with biodegradability and phosphorus-free fire retardancy[J]. J. Mater. Sci. Technol., 2026, 260: 229-240.

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Tick-inspired, self-healing, and strongly-adhesive coatings with biodegradability and phosphorus-free fire retardancy

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