TEOS-Based Superhydrophobic Coating for the Protection of Stone-Built Cultural Heritage

Mattel's ©Barbie: Preventing Plasticizers Leakage in PVC Artworks and Design Objects through Film-Forming Solutions

The main conservation problem of p-PVC artworks is phthalate-based plasticizer migration. Phthalate migration from the bulk to the surface of the materials leads to the formation of a glossy and oily film on the outer layers, ultimately reducing the flexibility of the material. This study aimed to develop a removable coating for the preservation of contemporary artworks and design objects made of plasticized polyvinyl chloride (p-PVC). Several coatings incorporating chitosan, collagen, and cellulose ethers were assessed as potential barriers to inhibiting plasticizer migration. Analytical techniques including optical microscopy (OM), ultraviolet/visible/near-infrared spectroscopy (UV/Vis/NIR), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy with attenuated total reflection (FTIR-ATR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were utilized to evaluate the optical and chemical stability of selected coating formulations applied to laboratory p-PVC sheet specimens. Subsequently, formulations were tested on a real tangible example of a design object, ©Barbie doll, characterized by the prevalent issue of plasticizer migration. Furthermore, the results obtained with the tested formulations were evaluated by a group of conservators using a tailored survey. Finally, a suitable coating formulation capable of safeguarding plastic substrates was suggested.

Anti-Icing Property of Superhydrophobic Nanostructured Brass via Deposition of Silica Nanoparticles and Nanolaser Treatment

Ice accumulation on brass surfaces can lead to heat transfer inefficiency, equipment degradation, and potential accidents. To address this issue, superhydrophobic surface technology is utilized. This work aims to develop superhydrophobic nanostructured brass surfaces using the combination of nanolaser ablation and the deposition of silica nanoparticles to achieve the anti-icing property. Four distinct types of brass surfaces namely, the bare surface (BS), the lasered surface (LS), the coated surface (CS), and the coated-lasered surface (CLS) were prepared. The anti-icing performances of the fabricated samples including the effects of the surface structure, the droplet size, and the surface temperature were investigated and evaluated. The results showed that the delayed icing time increased with the increases in the apparent contact angle, the droplet size, and the surface temperature. When the apparent contact angle increased, the contact area between the droplet and the cooling substrate reduced, leading to the longer delayed icing time. With the deposition of silica nanoparticles and nanolaser treatment, CLS achieved the greatest apparent contact angle of 164.5°, resulting in the longest delayed icing time under all experimental conditions. The longest delayed icing time on CLS recorded in this study was 2584 s, which was 575%, 356%, and 27% greater than those on BS, LS, and CS, respectively. The study also revealed that the surface structure played a more crucial role in achieving the anti-icing property when compared to the surface temperature or the droplet size. The shortest delayed icing time on CLS at the lowest surface temperature and at the smallest droplet size was longer than those on BS and LS at all conditions. The results were also discussed in relation to a heat transfer model. The findings of this research can serve as an avenue for advancing knowledge on heat transfer enhancement and energy efficiency.

Removal of dyes, oils, alcohols, heavy metals and microplastics from water with superhydrophobic materials

A wide variety of pollutants can be currently found in water that are extremely difficult to remove due to their chemical composition and properties. A lot of effort has been made to tackle this issue that directly affects the environment. In this scenario, superhydrophobic surfaces, which have a water contact angle >150°, have emerged as an innovative technology that could be applied in different ways. Their environmental applications show promise in removing emerging pollutants from water. While the number of publications on superhydrophobic materials has remained largely unchanged since 2019, the number of articles on the environmental applications of superhydrophobic surfaces is still rising, corroborating the interest in this area. Herein, we briefly present the basis of superhydrophobicity and show the different materials that have been used to remove pollutants from water. We have identified five types of emerging pollutants that are efficiently removed by superhydrophobic materials: oils, microplastics, dyes, heavy metals, and ethanol. Finally, the future challenges of these applications are also discussed, considering the state of the art of the environmental applications of superhydrophobic materials.

A Short Overview of Recent Developments in the Application of Polymeric Materials for the Conservation of Stone Cultural Heritage Elements

Stones are ones of the most ancient natural materials exploited by humans, with different uses, from tools to buildings, that have endured over time in better conditions than other objects belonging to cultural heritage. Given the importance of those silent witnesses of our past, as well as our duty to preserve all parts of cultural heritage for future generations, much effort was put into the development of materials for their consolidation, protection, self-cleaning, or restoration. Protection of ancient stone monuments and objects has gained the interest of researchers in the last decades in the field of conservation of cultural heritage. In this respect, the present paper aims to be a critical discussion regarding potential polymeric materials, which can be used in restorative and conservative approaches for stone materials of cultural heritage importance, against physical degradation phenomena. Recent advances in this area are presented, as well as the current bottle-necks and future development perspectives.

A Study on Impact of Different Surface Treatment Agents on the Durability of Airport Pavement Concrete

Concrete surface treatment is one of effective methods to increase the durability of concrete. This study chose tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS), lithium silicate (Li2SiO3), SiO2 nanoparticles (nano-SiO2) as surface treatment agents, tested their resistance to water penetration, chloride ion penetration, frost, sulfate erosion and abrasion of concrete specimens with different strengths, compared and evaluated the impacts to the durability of concrete by using three surface treatment agents, researched the impact of concrete strength on the surface treatment effects, and analyzed the mechanism of these surface treatment agents in connection with microscopic tests. It was found that all three agents can improve the durability of concrete, of which, the treatment effect from using tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) was the best; however, along with the improvement of concrete strength, its other effects were gradually reinforced except for some small improvement effect in resistance to frost, which means it is an ideal concrete surface treatment agent; for lithium silicate (Li2SiO3), the improvement effect of resistance to frost was the best with little impact on the strength of the concrete, however, the other performance improvement effects were a little bit worse than that of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS), which means it is more suitable for airport pavement with a higher concrete resistance to frost; For SiO2 nanoparticles (Nano-SiO2), the surface treatment effect was extreme limited, not recommended to be solely used for airport pavement with its requirement of high resistance to frost. Upon scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), fourier transform infrared radiation (FTIR) and thermo gravimetric analyzer (TGA) tests, the surfaced concrete specimens did not produce any new substances, and the effect of the surface treatment agents was mainly to improve the concrete performance by physical filling, or by filling the cavities with the hydrated calcium silicate gel produced in the chemical reaction. These results may direct the selection of surface treatment agents in airport engineering.

Fluorosilane Water-Repellent Coating for the Protection of Marble, Wood and Other Materials

The preservation of cultural heritage monuments and artifacts requires the development of methods to produce water-repellent materials, which can offer protection against the effects of atmospheric water. Fluorosilanes are a very promising class of materials, as they act as precursors for the formation of low surface energy polymer networks. 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorooctyl-triethoxysilane is applied on marble, wood and the surfaces of other materials, such as glass, silicon wafer, brass, paper and silk. According to the measurements of static water contact angles, it is reported that superhydrophobicity and enhanced hydrophobicity are achieved on the surfaces of coated marble and wood, respectively. Hydrophobicity and hydrophilicity were observed on the treated surfaces of the other materials. More important, water repellency is achieved on any hydrophobic or superhydrophobic surface, as revealed by the very low sliding angles of water drops. The study is accompanied by colorimetric measurements to evaluate the effects of the treatment on the aesthetic appearances of the investigated materials. Finally, the capillary absorption test and a durability test are applied on treated wood and marble, respectively.