Novel Dual-Component Microencapsulated Hydrophobic Amine and Microencapsulated Isocyanate Used for Self-Healing Anti-Corrosion Coating

Silicone-modified polyurea-interpenetrating polymer network fouling release coatings with excellent wear resistance property tailored to regulations

The invasion of alien species via marine organisms attaching to the surfaces of ship hulls is a growing problem. A number of countries have introduced corresponding regulations to combat ship biofouling. One effective way to solve this problem is to apply a fouling release coating with excellent wear resistance. In this study, a silicone-modified polyaspartic ester polyurea was synthesized by a simultaneous crosslinking polymerization. Polyaspartic ester polyurea is employed to form a tightly cross-linked network with excellent toughness and outstanding adhesion, while polydimethylsiloxane is used to form a relatively soft cross-linked network with low surface energy and surface elasticity modulus. Polyurea and silicone molecular chain lock onto each other to form interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) through their respective polymerization systems and cross-linking processes. The synergy between silicone and polyurea provides excellent mechanical properties as well as fouling release performance through the locking mechanism. This study provides a promising and universal strategy for the development of fouling release coatings with excellent wear resistance.

Effect of Transparent, Purple, and Yellow Shellac Microcapsules on the Optical Properties and Self-Healing Performance of Waterborne Coatings

Three kinds of melamine-formaldehyde (MF) microcapsules, containing transparent shellac, purple shellac, and yellow shellac as core curing agents, were synthesized via in situ polymerization, and then were embedded into the water-based acrylic resin coatings according to the concentrations of 0, 3.0%, 6.0%, 9.0%, 12.0%, and 15.0%, respectively, to obtain waterborne films with different microcapsule contents. The color of different shellacs was relevant to the color parameters of the self-healing waterborne film. The content of microcapsules was negatively correlated with the chromatic aberration of the surface of waterborne films. When the content of microcapsules was 0–6.0%, the chromatic aberration of waterborne films was relatively low. The content of microcapsules and the color of the different shellacs would affect the light transmittance of waterborne films. Among all samples, the light transmittance of the waterborne film containing 3.0% transparent shellac microcapsules was the highest. The microcapsules with different colors of shellac in waterborne films had different self-repairing effects. When the content of microcapsules did not exceed 6.0%, the tensile repair rate of the waterborne film containing yellow shellac encapsulated microcapsules was the highest, at 47.19%. The scratch experiment illustrated that the scratch width of the waterborne coating with yellow shellac microcapsules decreased most significantly, and the width change rate was 73.0% after 5 days. The coating containing the 3.0% yellow shellac microcapsule has the best comprehensive performance on optical and self-healing properties. Exploring the influence of shellac resin’s color and the microcapsules’ content on the waterborne film provides technical references for the application of shellac in waterborne coatings and contribute to the further development of the preparation process of self-healing coatings.

Synthesis and characterization of microencapsulated phase change materials with chitosan-based polyurethane shell

In this paper, chitosan-based polyurethane (c-PU) microencapsulated phase change materials (MicroPCMs) were prepared via the interfacial polymerization reaction of hexamethylene diisocyanate and chitosan accompanied by the charge attraction-assisted. The utilization of natural non-toxic chitosan in MicroPCMs expanded the application of chitosan and guided a new approach to preparing green shell. And the morphology of MicroPCMs with different reaction ration, surfactant and the pH value of reaction system were systematically investigated. The MicroPCMs with c-PU shell exhibited outstanding latent thermal performance (ΔH_m = 106.3 J/g, ΔH_c = -105.1 J/g), high energy storage efficiency (E = 71.4%), excellent thermal stability and cyclic durability. The c-PU MicroPCMs with reversible photochromic show promising application in the fields of anti-counterfeiting technology and flexible wearable UV protective clothing.

Corrosion Resistance Evaluation of Self-Healing Epoxy Coating Based on Dual-Component Capsules Containing Resin and Curing Agent

In this study, a self-healing epoxy coating was prepared by incorporating a dual capsule healing system including epoxy resin and its amine-based curing agent. The emulsion electrospray technique was used for encapsulating the healing agents in poly(styrene co-acrylonitrile) (SAN) as shell material. Characterizing the prepared microcapsules (MCs) by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) revealed their spherical morphology with the particle size of 827 nm and 749 nm for epoxy and amine cores, respectively. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) results confirmed successful encapsulation with no side chemical reaction between the encapsulated core and shell materials. The effects of embedding MCs on the physical and mechanical properties of the epoxy coating matrix were studied by pull-off adhesion, conical mandrel bending, and gloss tests. In addition, the prepared coatings’ self-healing performance was evaluated by Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) and potentiodynamic polarization (Tafel) experiments. The results revealed that the coating sample containing 1 wt% of core-shell MCs (a mixture of epoxy and amine-containing MCs with a 50 : 50 weight ratio) showed the best corrosion performance with 99% self-healing efficiency.

Stimuli-responsive engineered living materials

Stimuli-responsive materials are able to undergo controllable changes in materials properties in response to external cues. Increasing efforts have been directed towards building materials that mimic the responsive nature of biological systems. Nevertheless, limitations remain surrounding the way these synthetic materials interact and respond to their environment. In particular, it is difficult to synthesize synthetic materials that respond with specificity to poorly differentiated (bio)chemical and weak physical stimuli. The emerging area of engineered living materials (ELMs) includes composites that combine living cells and synthetic materials. ELMs have yielded promising advances in the creation of stimuli-responsive materials that respond with diverse outputs in response to a broad array of biochemical and physical stimuli. This review describes advances made in the genetic engineering of the living component and the processing-property relationships of stimuli-responsive ELMs. Finally, the implementation of stimuli-responsive ELMs as environmental sensors, biomedical sensors, drug delivery vehicles, and soft robots is discussed.

Recently Emerging Nanotechnological Advancements in Polymer Nanocomposite Coatings for Anti-corrosion, Anti-fouling and Self-healing

Recent nanotechnological advancements have enabled novel innovations in protective polymer nanocomposites (PNC) coatings for anti-corrosion, anti-fouling and self-healing services on material surfaces. Nanotechnology encompases research, manufacturing, and application of nanoparticulate architectures, tubular structures, sheets or plates exhibiting sizes below 100 nanometers (nm) in at least a single dimension. Inclusions of nanoparticles into organic entities have demonstrated enhanced properties essential for attainiment of aesthetics, anti-corrosion, thermal stability for high-temperature performances, mechanical strength essential for resisting coating deterioration in harsh environments, nano-architectural cross-linking capable of hindering penetration of corrosive, and biofouling entities. Unlike previously published literature, this paper elucidates very recently emerging important advancements in novel techniques utilized in developing PNC coatings for applications in aerospace, packaging, automotive, biomedicine, maritime, and oil and gas industries for attaining superior anti-fouling, anti-corrosion, and self-healing behaviors on critical material surfaces. Emerging market structures and novel applications are also presented.

Electrospun Multiple-Chamber Nanostructure and Its Potential Self-Healing Applications

To address the life span of materials in the process of daily use, new types of structural nanofibers, fabricated by multifluid electrospinning to encapsulate both epoxy resin and amine curing agent, were embedded into an epoxy matrix to provide it with self-healing ability. The nanofibers, which have a polyacrylonitrile sheath holding two separate cores, had an average diameter of 300 ± 140 nm with a uniform size distribution. The prepared fibers had a linear morphology with a clear three-chamber inner structure, as verified by scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope images. The two core sections were composed of epoxy and amine curing agents, respectively, as demonstrated under the synergistic characterization of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and differential scanning calorimetry. The TGA results disclosed that the core-shell nanofibers contained 9.06% triethylenetetramine and 20.71% cured epoxy. In the electrochemical corrosion experiment, self-healing coatings exhibited an effective anti-corrosion effect, unlike the composite without nanofibers. This complex nanostructure was proven to be an effective nanoreactor, which is useful to encapsulate reactive fluids. This engineering process by multiple-fluid electrospinning is the first time to prove that this special multiple-chamber structure has great potential in the field of self-healing.

Methods for Determining the Thermal Transfer in Phase-Changing Materials (PCMs)

A very important issue that needs to be solved as simply and correctly as possible is how to establish the thermal performance of phase-changing materials (PCM). The undertaken researches have analyzed the values of the thermal performances of the PCM taking into account the method of finite elements and the experimental research, respectively, based on a modern measurement system that was designed and implemented. Butyl stearate which has been encapsulated through complex coacervation in polymethyl methacrylate has been used as a PCM. Samples were made containing 10%, 20%, 30% and 40% PCM, respectively, within their structure. The research has established that at both the hot plate and the cold plate interface, the evolution of the temperature over time, established by both the finite element method (FEM) and experimental research, are quite close, and the best results have been obtained for the P30 sample. A very important thing observed during the finite element method (FEM) is that the simulated thermal flow variation extends between 2700-3110W/m² being small enough not to influence the temperature measurement at the interface of hot or cold plates. Thus, the use of the FEM or the experimental research method can be applied with good results, provided that the correct initial conditions are used in the finite element method and that the experimental research is performed using the best possible apparatus.

Optimized synthesis of isocyanate microcapsules for self-healing application in epoxy composites

Microcapsules containing isophorone diisocyanate were fabricated in oil-in-water emulsion. The emulsification effect of different emulsifiers during the capsule synthesis was systematically investigated by optical microscope. Three kinds of shell materials were discussed to obtain the high core content, smooth-surfaced, and robust capsule by scanning electronic microscope and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Self-healing performance of corresponding self-healing epoxy composites was fully evaluated by accelerated corrosion test and mechanical test. The results demonstrated that high core content and smooth-surfaced capsules with dense composite shell could be synthesized in polyvinyl alcohol emulsion, and the core content of the optimized capsules was determined as 71.3–84.6 wt% at the capsule size from 35 µm to 154 µm. In addition, the optimized capsules had good processing properties and the corresponding self-healing epoxy composites exhibited excellent core release and self-healing performance.

Preparation and Properties of Self-Healing and Self-Lubricating Epoxy Coatings with Polyurethane Microcapsules Containing Bifunctional Linseed Oil

An organic coating is commonly used to protect metal from corrosion, but it is prone to failure due to microcracks generated by internal stress and external mechanical action. The self-healing and self-lubricating achieved in the coating is novel, which allows an extension of life by providing resistance to damage and repair after damage. In this study, a new approach to microencapsulating bifunctional linseed oil with polyurethane shell by interfacial polymerization. Moreover, the self-healing and self-lubricating coatings with different concentrations of microcapsules were developed. The well-dispersed microcapsules showed a regular spherical morphology with an average diameter of ~64.9 μm and a core content of 74.0 wt.%. The results of the salt spray test demonstrated that coatings containing microcapsules still possess anticorrosion, which is improved with the increase of microcapsules content, after being scratched. The results of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy showed a |Z|_f=0.01Hz value of 10⁴ Ω·cm² for pure epoxy coating after being immersed for 3 days, whereas the coating with 20 wt.% microcapsules was the highest, 10¹⁰ Ω·cm². The results of friction wear showed that the tribological performance of the coating was enhanced greatly as microcapsule concentration reached 10 wt.% or more, which showed a 86.8% or more reduction in the friction coefficient compared to the pure epoxy coating. These results indicated that the coatings containing microcapsules exhibited excellent self-healing and self-lubricating properties, which are positively correlated with microcapsules content.

Microstructure and Properties of Self-Assembly Graphene Microcapsules: Effect of the pH Value

Graphene has attracted attention in the material field of functional microcapsules because of its excellent characteristics. The content and state of graphene in shells are critical for the properties of microcapsules, which are greatly affected by the charge adsorption equilibrium. The aim of this work was to investigate the effect of pH value on the microstructure and properties of self-assembly graphene microcapsules in regard to chemical engineering. Microcapsule samples were prepared containing liquid paraffin by a self-assembly polymerization method with graphene/organic hybrid shells. The morphology, average size and shell thickness parameters were investigated for five microcapsule samples fabricated under pH values of 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7. The existence and state of graphene in dry microcapsule samples were analyzed by using methods of scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Fourier Transform Infrared Spectoscopy (FT-IR) and Energy Dispersive Spectrometer (EDS) were applied to analyze the graphene content in shells. These results proved that graphene had existed in shells and the pH values greatly influenced the graphene deposition on shells. It was found that the microcapsule sample fabricated under pH = 5 experienced the largest graphene deposited on shells with the help of macromolecules entanglement and electrostatic adherence. This microcapsules sample had enhanced thermal stability and larger thermal conductivity because of additional graphene in shells. Nanoindentation tests showed this sample had the capability of deforming resistance under pressure coming from the composite structure of graphene/polymer structure. Moreover, more graphene decreased the penetrability of core material out of microcapsule shells.

Self-Healing Cellulose Nanocrystals-Containing Gels via Reshuffling of Thiuram Disulfide Bonds

Self-healing gels based on reshuffling disulfide bonds have attracted great attention due to their ability to restore structure and mechanical properties after damage. In this work, self-healing gels with different cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) contents were prepared by embedding the thiuram disulfide bonds into gels via polyaddition. By the reshuffling of thiuram disulfide bonds, the CNC-containing gels repair the crack and recover mechanical properties rapidly under visible light in air. The thiuram disulfide-functionalized gels with a CNC content of 2.2% are highly stretchable and can be stretched approximately 42.6 times of their original length. Our results provide useful approaches for the preparation of dynamic CNC-containing gels with implications in many related engineering applications.

A High-Performance and Low-Cost Soy Flour Adhesive with a Hydroxymethyl Melamine Prepolymer

To improve the performance of a soy flour (SF)-based adhesive, a low-cost hydroxymethyl melamine prepolymer (HMP) was synthesized and then used to modify the SF-based adhesive. The HMP was characterized, and the performance of the adhesive was evaluated, including its residual rate, functions, thermal stability, and fracture section. Plywood was fabricated to measure wet shear strength. The results indicated that the HMP preferentially reacted with polysaccharose in SF and formed a cross-linking network to improve the water resistance of the adhesive. This polysaccharose-based network also combined with the HMP self-polycondensation network and soy protein to form an interpenetrating network, which further improved the water resistance of the adhesive. With the addition of 9% HMP, the wet shear strength (63 °C) of the plywood was 1.21 MPa, which was 9.3 times that of the SF adhesive. With the HMP additive increased to 15%, the shear strength (100 °C) of the plywood was 0.79 MPa, which met the plywood requirement for exterior use (≥0.7 MPa) in accordance with Chinese National Standard (GB/T 9846.3-2004). With the addition of 9% and 15% HMP, the residual rates of the adhesive improved by 5.1% and 8.5%, respectively. The dense interpenetrating network structure improved the thermal stability of the resultant adhesive and created a compact fracture to prevent moisture intrusion, which further increased the water resistance of the adhesive.

Fabrication and Performance of Composite Microencapsulated Phase Change Materials with Palmitic Acid Ethyl Ester as Core

Microencapsulation of phase change materials (PCMs) could prevent the leakage of PCMs during solid⁻liquid phase change process. However, their applications are mainly limited by the compactness and thermal stability of the traditional polyurea shell microcapsules. To increase the thermal compactness and thermal stability of PCM microcapsules, tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) was employed to form polymer/SiO₂ composite shells to enhance the mechanical performance of polyurea and polyurethane microcapsule via interfacial polymerization and in situ polymerization. The morphology and chemical components of the microcapsules were characterized by field-emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, respectively. The thermal properties of the microcapsules were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermal gravity analysis (TGA). The results showed the smoothness and compactness of both polyurea⁻SiO₂ and polyurethane⁻SiO₂ microcapsules enhanced slightly, when compared with that without TEOS addition. Moreover, the SiO₂ composite shell had good effect on thermal compactness, as the weight loss rate of polyurea⁻SiO₂ microcapsules and polyurethane⁻SiO₂ microcapsules decreased 3.5% and 4.1%, respectively.

Near-Infrared Light and Solar Light Activated Self-Healing Epoxy Coating having Enhanced Properties Using MXene Flakes as Multifunctional Fillers

Two issues are required to be solved to bring intrinsically self-healing polymer coatings into real applications: remote activation and satisfied practical properties. Here, we used MXene, a newly reported two-dimensional material, to provide an epoxy coating with light-induced self-healing capabilities and we worked to enhance the properties of that coating. The self-healing coatings had a reversible crosslinking network based on the Diels-Alder reaction among maleimide groups from bis(4-maleimidopheny)methane and dangling furan groups in oligomers that were prepared through the condensation polymerization of diglycidylether of bisphenol A and furfurylamine. The results showed that the delaminated MXene flakes were small in size, around 900 nm, and dispersed well in self-healing coatings. The MXene flakes of only 2.80 wt % improved greatly the pencil hardness of the coating hardness from HB to 5H and the polarization resistance from 4.3 to 428.3 MΩ cm-2. The self-healing behavior, however, was retarded by MXene flakes. Leveling agent acted a key part here to facilitate the gap closure driven by reverse plasticity to compensate for the limitation of macromolecular mobility resulting from the MXene flakes. The self-healing of coatings was achieved in 30 s by thermal treatment at 150 °C. The efficient self-healing was also demonstrated based on the recovery of the anti-corrosion capability. MXene flakes also played an evident photothermal role in generating heat via irradiation of near-infrared light at 808 nm and focused sunlight. The healing can be quickly obtained in 10 s under irradiation of near-infrared light at 808 nm having a power density of 6.28 W cm-2 or in 10 min under irradiation of focused sunlight having a power density of 4.0 W cm-2.