Advanced Polymeric Materials and Coatings: Synthesis, Properties and Applications

A special issue of Coatings (ISSN 2079-6412). This special issue belongs to the section "Functional Polymer Coatings and Films".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 August 2024) | Viewed by 13960

Special Issue Editor


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Jotun Performance Coatings, Jotun A/S, 3211 Sandefjord, Norway
Interests: polymers; organic coatings; polymer synthesis; corrosion protection; polymer characterization
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Modern life without organic polymers is probably unimaginable. Polymers are vital ingredients of different products we use daily. Polymers are also among the most important ingredients of the organic coatings used for the protection and longevity of various metallic structures across the globe. Organic coatings, applied heavily to protect metallic structures of immense commercial importance (e.g., automobiles, ships, chemical manufacturing plants, wind turbines, oil rigs, etc.), use a variety of polymers as binders, co-binders, rheology modifiers, etc., in a sophisticated balance with the other ingredients (e.g., extenders/fillers, pigments, etc.) in the coatings to perform their desired function in real-life contexts. Therefore, it is important to control the molecular structure and properties of polymers intended for use in coatings.

Although the developments in science and technology have enabled the production of polymers with precisely controlled molecular structures, the industry is still in need of advanced polymeric materials serving multiple and predictable functions with the lowest possible material and monetary cost. The current era of renewable and recyclable polymers has increased the demand for such advanced polymers. Therefore, this Special Issue is dedicated to the publication of research articles disseminating the synthesis, properties and applications of advanced polymeric materials and coatings.

Dr. Muhammad Ahsan Bashir
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Coatings is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • polymer synthesis
  • marine coatings
  • corrosion protection
  • polymeric coating
  • coating application

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (10 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

14 pages, 6797 KiB  
Article
Study on Durability and Dynamic Deicing Performance of Elastomeric Coatings on Wind Turbine Blades
by Ke Li, Zhiliang Xue, Danqing Jiang, Zhichun Chen, Qi Si, Jixin Liu and Yonggang Zhou
Coatings 2024, 14(7), 870; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings14070870 - 11 Jul 2024
Viewed by 638
Abstract
Durable elastomeric deicing coatings were developed for the anti-icing and deicing of wind turbine blades in this study. Our developed deicing coatings demonstrated extremely low ice adhesion strength (~15 kPa). Silica was added to enhance the icephobic surfaces’ durability. The life of the [...] Read more.
Durable elastomeric deicing coatings were developed for the anti-icing and deicing of wind turbine blades in this study. Our developed deicing coatings demonstrated extremely low ice adhesion strength (~15 kPa). Silica was added to enhance the icephobic surfaces’ durability. The life of the deicing coating with silica was extended by 1.2 times. After 168 h of xenon lamp irradiation, there were no significant changes in the chemical composition of the coatings. Due to the increasing roughness and the decreasing tensile modulus, the contact angle of the aged coatings decreased by 14°. Further outdoor research was carried out on a wind farm for two months to investigate the influence of natural insolation and wind erosion on the elastic deicing coatings. The aged coating still maintained a high hydrophobicity and low ice adhesion strength. The contact angle stabilized at 107°, and the ice adhesion strength was 75% lower than that of the uncoated wind turbine blade. The elastomeric deicing coatings had three advantages: a lagging freezing time, low ice accumulation, and a short icing/deicing cycle. The results of field experiments on the naturally aged coatings showed that the freezing time of the coated blade was delayed by 20 min, and the ice on the coated blade was 29% thinner than that on the uncoated blade. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 3327 KiB  
Article
Electrochemical, Structural and Thermodynamic Investigations of Methanolic Parsley Extract as a Green Corrosion Inhibitor for C37 Steel in HCl
by Aomar Boutoumit, Maha Elhawary, Abdelkbir Bellaouchou, Maria Boudalia, Othmane Hammani, Anton José Garcia and Hatem M. A. Amin
Coatings 2024, 14(7), 783; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings14070783 - 22 Jun 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1061
Abstract
Phytochemical-rich natural extracts have recently attracted intense attention as green corrosion inhibitors and costly benign coating components for the protection of metallic structures of immense commercial importance. Herein, various methods were applied to assess the corrosion protection efficiency of a methanolic extract of [...] Read more.
Phytochemical-rich natural extracts have recently attracted intense attention as green corrosion inhibitors and costly benign coating components for the protection of metallic structures of immense commercial importance. Herein, various methods were applied to assess the corrosion protection efficiency of a methanolic extract of parsley (Petroselinum crispum) (PCE) on carbon steel C37 in 1 M HCl. Initially, the chemical profile of PCE was analyzed using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), and myristicin and apiol were identified as the main components. The results from the weight loss, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and potentiodynamic polarization (PDP) techniques revealed a substantial reduction in the corrosion rate upon the use of PCE, with a maximum inhibition efficiency of 92% at 1 g L−1 PCE. To optimize the performance, the corrosion behavior was investigated over a temperature range of 303–333 K and for concentrations of 0.1–1 g L−1. The inhibition effectiveness increased at higher concentrations of PCE, whilst it decreased when the temperature was elevated. The query suggests that the adsorption process involves both physical and chemical mechanisms. The adsorption of PCE onto C37 was well described by the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. The data were used to determine the activation energy and thermodynamic parameters. The PCE coating acted as a mixed-type inhibitor, hampering both cathodic and anodic corrosion reactions. SEM further confirmed the formation of a protective coating film on the steel surface when exposed to PCE. UV-Vis and XRD were implemented to understand the inhibition mechanism and formed products at the microscopic and spectroscopic levels. Hence, the green PCE inhibitor may potentially be applied in corrosion mitigation due to its high corrosion protection efficacy and its environmentally benign nature. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 4066 KiB  
Article
UV-Curable Silicone-Modified Polyurethane Acrylates for Food Freshness Monitoring
by Na He, Hongyu Zhu, Nana Sun, Shaoqing Shi, Libo Xie, Jie Miao, Guoqiao Lai, Meijiang Li and Xiongfa Yang
Coatings 2024, 14(6), 728; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings14060728 - 6 Jun 2024
Viewed by 747
Abstract
Intelligent materials for monitoring the condition of the packaged food or its surroundings are highly desired to ensure food safety. In this paper, UV-curable silicone-modified materials for monitoring the freshness of high-protein food such as shrimp and pork were prepared from polyurethane acrylates [...] Read more.
Intelligent materials for monitoring the condition of the packaged food or its surroundings are highly desired to ensure food safety. In this paper, UV-curable silicone-modified materials for monitoring the freshness of high-protein food such as shrimp and pork were prepared from polyurethane acrylates with covalent-grafted neutral red groups and thiol silicone resin. The UV-curable materials exhibited visible pH-sensitive performance and long-term color stability because their color did not change when they were immersed in aqueous solutions with different pH values for 20 min, and the color remained even when they were immersed for over 5 h. The distinctive color variation in the UV coatings makes them suitable as potential pH-sensitive sensors. These pH-sensitive intelligent materials can be applied to monitor the freshness of high-protein food such as shrimp and pork. Additionally, the thermal stability and adhesive properties of the UV-curable materials were also studied. A conclusion can be drawn that the covalent bonding of neutral red groups onto a silicone-modified polymer matrix is an ideal strategy for developing pH-sensitive intelligent materials with good pH stability for monitoring the freshness of high-protein food. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 9690 KiB  
Article
Effect of Simultaneous Application of Glass Fiber Reinforcement and Polymer-Modified Asphalt Emulsion on DBST’s Resistance to Aggregate Loss Using Laboratory Investigation
by Je Won Kim and Carlo Elipse
Coatings 2024, 14(6), 702; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings14060702 - 3 Jun 2024
Viewed by 553
Abstract
Double bituminous surface treatment (DBST) has been a widely utilized pavement maintenance material due to its capability to restore the surface roughness of existing pavement and provide a layer of protection against weathering, aging, and moisture. However, DBST is highly prone to aggregate [...] Read more.
Double bituminous surface treatment (DBST) has been a widely utilized pavement maintenance material due to its capability to restore the surface roughness of existing pavement and provide a layer of protection against weathering, aging, and moisture. However, DBST is highly prone to aggregate loss at an early stage, which is a very common problem experienced by surface treatment. Therefore, to lessen the aggregate loss and prolong the service life of DBST, fiber additive can be incorporated to strengthen the adhesion between the asphalt emulsion and aggregates. This study investigated the performance of glass fiber-reinforced polymer-modified DBST against aggregate loss by conducting laboratory tests using typical DBST as the benchmark of the test results. Four laboratory tests were chosen to represent different loading applications on the surface of the pavement: the bitumen bond strength (BBS) test, the sweep test, the Hamburg wheel-track test (HWT test), and a one-third-scale model mobile load simulator (MMLS3) model. Furthermore, the curing time of the asphalt emulsion was considered in the BBS test and sweep test. Based on all results from the conducted laboratory tests, polymer-modified DBST with glass fiber reinforcement presented an increased resistance to aggregate loss compared with typical DBST. Moreover, it was found that a longer curing time of the asphalt emulsion, whether it was typical or modified, strengthened the surface treatment’s resistance to aggregate loss. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 7291 KiB  
Article
In Situ Study on the Structural Evolution of Flexible Ionic Gel Sensors
by Shujun Yan, Jun Tang, Angui Zhang, Nie Zhao, Fu Wang and Shaowei Sun
Coatings 2024, 14(5), 562; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings14050562 - 1 May 2024
Viewed by 1288
Abstract
With the development of society, the demand for smart coatings is increasing. The development of flexible strain sensors using block copolymer self-assembled ionic gel materials provides a promising method for promoting the development of smart coatings. The ionic liquid in the ionic part [...] Read more.
With the development of society, the demand for smart coatings is increasing. The development of flexible strain sensors using block copolymer self-assembled ionic gel materials provides a promising method for promoting the development of smart coatings. The ionic liquid in the ionic part of the material is crucial for the performance of the sensor. In this study, the structural changes within FDA/dEAN (self-assembly of acrylated Pluronic F127 (F127-DA) in partially deuterated ethylammonium nitrate (dEAN)) triblock copolymer ionic gel during uniaxial tensile flow were characterized using an in situ SAXS technique. The results revealed that the characteristics of the responses of the ionic gel to strain resistance were intricately linked to the evolution of its microstructure during the tensile process. At low levels of strain, the face-centered cubic lattice arrangement of the micelles tended to remain unchanged. However, when subjected to higher strains, the molecular chains aligned along the stretching direction, resulting in a more ordered structure with reduced entropy. This alignment led to significant disruption in bridging structures within the material. Furthermore, this research explored the impact of the stretching rate on the relaxation process. It was observed that higher stretching rates led to decreases in the average relaxation time, indicating rate dependence in the microstructure’s behavior. These findings provide valuable insights into the behavior and performance of flexible strain sensors based on ionic gel materials in smart coatings. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 19076 KiB  
Article
In Situ Synthesis of an Epoxy Resin Microwave Absorption Coating with Anti-Ultraviolet Aging Effects
by Shujun Yan, Xin Chen, Angui Zhang and Jun Tang
Coatings 2024, 14(4), 514; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings14040514 - 20 Apr 2024
Viewed by 1310
Abstract
A nanoparticle-anchored three-dimensional microsphere flower-structured layered double hydroxide (LDH) material with Fe3O4 particles was successfully prepared using simple hydrothermal and hot solvent methods. Micro-nanostructured Fe3O4@LDHs (SLF) composites balance microwave absorption, corrosion protection, and UV aging resistance. [...] Read more.
A nanoparticle-anchored three-dimensional microsphere flower-structured layered double hydroxide (LDH) material with Fe3O4 particles was successfully prepared using simple hydrothermal and hot solvent methods. Micro-nanostructured Fe3O4@LDHs (SLF) composites balance microwave absorption, corrosion protection, and UV aging resistance. The minimum reflection loss value of SLF is −35.75 dB at 14.16 GHz, when the absorber thickness is 8 mm, and the absorption bandwidth at this frequency is up to 2.56 GHz for RL values less than −10 dB, while the LL is only 1 GHz. The SLF /EP coating has not only excellent microwave absorption performance but also excellent corrosion and UV aging resistance performance. The coating still has some anti-corrosion effect after 10 d of immersion. This work is intended as a reference for the development of new coatings with excellent microwave absorption properties as well as corrosion and UV aging resistance for wind turbine tower barrels (seaside wind power generation equipment) surfaces. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 5968 KiB  
Article
Self-Healing UV-Curable Urethane (Meth)acrylates with Various Soft Segment Chemistry
by Paulina Bednarczyk, Paula Ossowicz-Rupniewska, Joanna Klebeko, Joanna Rokicka, Yongping Bai and Zbigniew Czech
Coatings 2023, 13(12), 2045; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings13122045 - 5 Dec 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1759
Abstract
This study explores the synthesis and evaluation of UV-curable urethane (meth)acrylates (UA) incorporating a Diels–Alder adduct (HODA), diisocyanate, poly(ethylene glycol), and hydroxy (meth)acrylate. Six UAs, distinguished by the soft segment of polymer chains, underwent comprehensive characterization using FTIR and NMR spectroscopy. Real-time monitoring [...] Read more.
This study explores the synthesis and evaluation of UV-curable urethane (meth)acrylates (UA) incorporating a Diels–Alder adduct (HODA), diisocyanate, poly(ethylene glycol), and hydroxy (meth)acrylate. Six UAs, distinguished by the soft segment of polymer chains, underwent comprehensive characterization using FTIR and NMR spectroscopy. Real-time monitoring of the UV-curing process and analysis of self-healing properties were performed. The research investigates the influence of various molecular weights of PEGs on the self-healing process, revealing dependencies on photopolymerization kinetics, microstructure, thermal properties, and thermoreversibility of urethane (meth)acrylates. This work provides valuable insights into the development of UV-curable coatings with tailored properties for potential applications in advanced materials. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 4425 KiB  
Article
The Design and Preparation of Antibacterial Polymer Brushes with Phthalocyanine Pigments
by Yu Zhou, Kaimin Chen, Li Liu, Shaoguo Wen and Taijiang Gui
Coatings 2023, 13(6), 1114; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings13061114 - 17 Jun 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2001
Abstract
Phthalocyanine pigments have many problems in waterborne coating applications because of their low polarity, poor dispersion in water, and easy agglomeration properties. In order to solve these problems, the phthalocyanine pigments were encapsulated with a copolymer of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and butyl acrylate [...] Read more.
Phthalocyanine pigments have many problems in waterborne coating applications because of their low polarity, poor dispersion in water, and easy agglomeration properties. In order to solve these problems, the phthalocyanine pigments were encapsulated with a copolymer of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and butyl acrylate (BA) by a mini-emulsion polymerization method. The pigments are effectively dispersed in water and have good compatibility with the resin. Concerning the bacterial reproduction and growth problem for the waterborne system, the resin-encapsulated phthalocyanine pigments were further grafted with antibacterial polymer poly(N-(2-hydroxyethyl) acrylamide) (PHEAA) on its surface using the photoemulsion polymerization technique. Comprehensive properties, including centrifugal stability and chromaticity change, were studied. The polymer encapsulation improved the centrifugal stability of the pigment. The thermogravimetric results showed that the residual mass of C.I. Pigment Green 7 (52.30%) was higher than that of C.I. Pigment Blue 15:3 (30.06%), and the sublimation fastness of PG7 was higher. The TEM results revealed that the shape of the PG7 after encapsulation and grafting was more regular than that of PB15:3. The L* of the pigment decreased after encapsulation but then increased after further grafting. The phthalocyanine pigment composite latex had good antibacterial properties after the grafting of PHEAA. Full article
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

13 pages, 7815 KiB  
Article
A Transparent, and Self-Healable Strain-Sensor E-Skin Based on Polyurethane Membrane with Silver Nanowires
by Rundong Wang, Shuangjiang Feng, Yanyun Wang, Chengqian Li, Xiaohai Bu, Yuzhong Huang, Man He and Yuming Zhou
Coatings 2023, 13(5), 829; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings13050829 - 26 Apr 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1804
Abstract
Electronic skin (E-skin) is increasingly utilized in modern society, yet current E-skin technology suffers from issues, such as opacity, hardness, and fragility. To address these challenges, a novel E-skin was developed using polyurethane (PU) as the matrix material and silver nanowires (AgNWs) as [...] Read more.
Electronic skin (E-skin) is increasingly utilized in modern society, yet current E-skin technology suffers from issues, such as opacity, hardness, and fragility. To address these challenges, a novel E-skin was developed using polyurethane (PU) as the matrix material and silver nanowires (AgNWs) as the sensing material. By leveraging the small degree of microphase separation and lack of crystallization in the PU, combined with the appropriate length–diameter ratio of the AgNWs, the resulting E-skin exhibited a visible light transmittance of 75%. The E-skin also showed excellent self-healing properties (83.63% efficiency in the third repair) and mechanical properties (with almost no degradation after 60 tensile cycles) due to the reversible dynamic cross-linking network within the PU. The synergistic effect of PU and AgNWs resulted in exceptional sensing performance for the E-skin, with a gauge factor of 46 (when ε = 10%). Moreover, the E-skin demonstrated signal stability during human joint motion monitoring and successfully identified different movement states, highlighting its potential for diverse applications. This research presents a simple yet effective approach for producing transparent, durable, and stable E-skin. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 7890 KiB  
Article
Effect of Fluorocarbon Polymers on Hydrophobicity, Wear Resistance and Corrosion Resistance of Epoxy Resins
by Yali Tan, Jun Tang, Nie Zhao, Fugang Qi and Xiaoping Ouyang
Coatings 2023, 13(4), 685; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings13040685 - 27 Mar 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1952
Abstract
In order to meet the anticorrosion and wear resistance requirements of petroleum pipelines, we selected a polymer (FC) containing difunctional hydroxyl propyl acrylate (HPA) and perfluoroalkyl ethyl acrylate (TEAc-N) free radical polymerization to prepare hydrophobic fluorocarbon chain oil and a hydroxyl special functional [...] Read more.
In order to meet the anticorrosion and wear resistance requirements of petroleum pipelines, we selected a polymer (FC) containing difunctional hydroxyl propyl acrylate (HPA) and perfluoroalkyl ethyl acrylate (TEAc-N) free radical polymerization to prepare hydrophobic fluorocarbon chain oil and a hydroxyl special functional group. Combined with tetrafluororesin (F4), the hydrophobic, wear-resistant and corrosion-resistant properties of epoxy coating were improved. The optimum synthesis ratio of TEAc-N:HPA was 9:1, and the FC polymer with the best hydrophobicity was prepared. The hydrophobic angle of the coating was 100.3% higher than that of pure Q235 section steel. By adding 5 wt.% of FC to epoxy resin (EP), the hydrophobicity increased by 65.4% and oleophobicity increased by 32.1% compared with pure EP. The coefficient of friction was reduced by 73.8%. EIS test results showed that the impedance modulus in the low frequency region (|Z|0.01 Hz) was two orders of magnitude higher than that of the pure epoxy coating. The composite coating has sufficient utility to meet the wear, heat and corrosion resistance requirements for oil pipeline transportation. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop