Microreservoir with End Plugs for Controlled Release of Corrosion Inhibitor

A method of inhibiting corrosion comprising the steps of:

• a. providing a population of mineral tubules, each mineral tubule comprising a lumen extending from a first end of said mineral tubule to a second end of said mineral tubule, said lumen creating a first opening at said first end and a second opening at said second end;
• b. loading an anticorrosion agent into said lumens of said mineral tubules to form a population of loaded mineral tubules;
• c. washing said loaded mineral tubules with water;
• and
• d. mixing said loaded mineral tubules with a solution containing a predetermined concentration of transition metal ions to form a first precipitate stopper blocking said first opening and a second precipitate stopper blocking said second opening on each mineral tubule, wherein said first and second precipitate stoppers are formed by the interaction of said anticorrosion agent and said transition metal ions.

A method of inhibiting corrosion comprising the steps of:

• a. providing a population of mineral tubules, each mineral tubule comprising a lumen extending from a first end of said mineral tubule to a second end of said mineral tubule, said lumen creating a first opening at said first end and a second opening at said second end;
• b. loading an anticorrosion agent and a polycation into said lumens of said mineral tubules to form a population of loaded mineral tubules;
• c. washing said loaded mineral tubules with water;
• and
• d. mixing said loaded mineral tubules with a solution containing a predetermined concentration of polyanions to form a first precipitate stopper blocking said first opening and a second precipitate stopper blocking said second opening on each mineral tubule, wherein said first and second precipitate stoppers are formed by the interaction of said polycation leaking from said lumens of said mineral tubules and said polyanion disposed outside of said mineral tubules.

A coating composition comprising a mixture of:

• a coating material;
• and
• one or more corrosion inhibiting structures, each corrosion inhibiting structure comprising:
• a mineral tubule having a lumen extending from a first opening on a first end of said mineral tubule to a second opening on a second end of said mineral tubule, a deposit of one or more reagents disposed within said lumen, said reagents comprising an anticorrosion agent, a first precipitate stopper covering said first opening, and a second precipitate stopper covering said second opening, wherein said first and second precipitate stoppers each comprise a precipitate formed by the interaction of one of said reagents leaking from said lumen with one or more counter-reagents disposed outside of said mineral tubule.