Search Results (5)

Drawing inspiration from the bionic nacre structure, graphene was incorporated into the epoxy solvent-borne adhesive to construct a laminated architecture. At the same time, ferrocene was employed as a catalyst to induce the in situ growth of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) under high-temperature conditions. This modification endowed the epoxy solvent-borne adhesive with not only high strength in atmospheric environments but also the capability to retain considerable mechanical performance at elevated temperatures. Experimental results demonstrated that when the graphene content in the epoxy solution fell within the range of 3.2–4%, the bonding strength exceeded 3 MPa within the temperature range of 1000–1300 °C. In particular, the adhesive exhibited excellent thermal shock resistance, with no degradation in strength observed after 15 thermal shock cycles at 1300 °C. Such exceptional performance was attributed to the formation of interlaminar CNTs generated after high-temperature treatment. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations clearly revealed the laminated graphene sheets and in situ grown CNTs, confirming the feasibility of the strategy to enhance bonding efficacy by mimicking the nacre structure. This approach represented an innovative breakthrough for further research on the application of the “brick-and-mortar” structure in the bonding layer and the in situ growth of CNTs among lamellar graphene, while also providing detailed supporting data. Full article

Alkyd resins are among the most common coatings used for exterior wood joinery. In Romania, solvent-borne alkyd coatings are widely used to finish wood. The study aims to compare the performance after 7 years of outdoor exposure of two types of alkyd coatings, a semi-transparent brown stain with micronized pigments (Alk1) and an opaque white enamel (Alk2), applied directly on wood or wood pre-treated with three types of resins: acryl-polyurethane (R1), epoxy (R2), and alkyd-polyurethane (R3). Fir (Abies alba) wood served as the substrate. Cracking, coating adhesion, and biological degradation were periodically assessed through visual inspection and microscopy. Additionally, a cross-cut test was performed, and the loss of coating on the directly exposed upper faces was measured using ImageJ. The results indicated that resin pretreatments somewhat reduced cracking but negatively affected coating adhesion after long-term exposure. All samples pretreated with resins and coated with Alk1 lost more than 50% (up to 78%) of the original finishing film by the end of the test. In comparison, coated control samples lost less than 50%. The Alk2 coating exhibited a film loss between 2% and 12%, compared to an average loss of 9% for the coated control. Overall, samples pretreated with alkyd-polyurethane resin (R3) and coated with alkyd enamel (Alk2) demonstrated the best performance in terms of cracking, adhesion, and discoloration. Full article

Due to green development in recent years, water-borne epoxy resins (WBE) have become increasingly popular since they generate the lowest level of volatile organic compounds (VOC) during curing. However, because of the large surface tension of water, it is easy to produce voids and cracks during the curing process of the coating. An electrochemical strategy was used in this study to assess the impact of different SiO₂ content on the corrosion performance of a WBE coating, in which micron spherical SiO₂ particles were synthesized in a liquid phase reduction. The results showed that the synthesized micron spherical SiO₂ particles were about 800 ± 50 nm in diameter and in an amorphous state. By hydrophilizing the surfaces of these SiO₂ particles, uniform dispersion in an aqueous solvent and a WBE can be achieved. It is important to note that adding a small or excessive amount of SiO₂ to a coating will not improve corrosion resistance and may even reduce corrosion resistance. With the appropriate modification of SiO₂, corrosion resistance of composite coatings is greatly enhanced, as is the adhesion between the coatings and the metallic substrates. Because the appropriately modified SiO₂ can effectively fill the pores that are formed during the curing process, a corrosive medium is less likely to react with the matrix when the medium comes into contact with the matrix. Based on their incorporation content of 3 wt.%, their corrosion resistance is the best after 16 cycles of AC-DC-AC accelerated corrosion tests. Full article

Many companies in the power transformer industry are striving to speed up the drying process of coatings, which is why alternative drying methods are constantly being explored while maintaining the same coating protection properties. The infrared (IR) drying of protective coatings is a potential solution for their higher productivity, but has not yet been extensively investigated. In this paper, two solvent-borne coating systems, with and without zinc in the primer, from two different manufacturers, dried by infrared radiation and under atmospheric conditions, were studied. The coating systems consisted of epoxy primer, epoxy intermediate coat, and polyurethane topcoat. Anti-corrosion performance of the coatings was characterized using a salt spray chamber, pull-off adhesion testing, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) investigation, and open circuit potential (OCP) measurement. All samples were analyzed using stereo microscope. A scanning electron microscope (SEM) with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) for detailed study and chemical composition determination was used. The results showed that infrared technology notably reduced coating drying times while maintaining or improving anticorrosion performance properties compared to the coatings dried under atmospheric conditions. Full article

Protective coatings are the most widely used corrosion protection method for construction materials in different environmental conditions. They isolate metals from aggressive media, making the structure more durable. Today, alongside good anti-corrosive properties, coatings need to be safe for the environment and harmless to those who apply them. The high volatile organic compound (VOC) content in conventional solvent-borne coatings presents a huge ecological problem. A solution for indispensable solvent emission reduction is the application of powder coatings. This study evaluates the corrosion performance and surface morphology of polyester and epoxy–polyester powder coatings. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), open circuit potential (OCP) measurement, salt spray chamber and humidity chamber testing followed by adhesion testing were used to investigate the protective properties of powder coatings. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) was used to analyse the surface morphology and chemical composition, whereas the microstructure and coating uniformity were determined by optical microscope examination. The research revealed a negative influence of coating surface texture on coating thickness and consequently a lack of barrier and adhesion properties. The epoxy–polyester powder coating showed a better performance than the polyester coating. All tested coatings showed uniform structure. Full article