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Polymer Thin Films: From Fundamentals to Applications (Second Edition)
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Polymer Thin Films: From Fundamentals to Applications (Second Edition)

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2025 | Viewed by 4323

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Mohor Mihelčič

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Laboratory of Experimental Mechanics, University of Ljubljana, Aškerčeva ulica 6, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Interests: thin films; multifunctional coatings and polymers; rheological characterization of various materials; degradation of materials; recycling of polymers
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The research on polymer thin films is an ongoing process, where the basic knowledge about the preparation of coating formulations and/or complex interactions between the substrate and the coating are the key factors for producing a quality and durable product.

This Special Issue of the journal Coatings, “Polymer Thin Films: From Fundamentals to Applications (Second Edition)”, aims to assess the recent basic and advanced theoretical and experimental progress made in polymer thin coating films used in various applications.

The use of polymer thin films is nowadays implemented in almost every aspect of modern life due to their cost-efficiency, lightness, flexibility, and unique physical and chemical properties. The reason for focusing this research on polymer thin films is to understand the thermodynamic and kinetic mechanisms, such as interfacial interactions, flow behaviour, film formation, relationships between deposition process parameters and the film structure, and other advanced functional properties.

Polymer thin films are used as coatings that modify and/or increase the functionality of bulk surfaces or substrates. Nowadays, many techniques exist for the deposition of thin polymer films, including physical, chemical, laser and wet deposition, among others. New deposition processes are being developed to achieve new compositions and physical properties. The research on polymer thin films is focused on many industrial applications, such as energy technologies, optics, sensors, microelectronics, medicine, biotechnology, etc.

The topics of interest for this Special Issue include, but are not limited to:

  • Synthesis of novel polymer thin films;
  • Correlations and predictions of rheological and mechanical properties of polymer thin films;
  • Novel polymer thin films;
  • Novel materials with functional properties, e.g., conductive, optical, tribological, barrier, protective, and antifouling coatings, among others;
  • Relationships between deposition process parameters and polymer thin film microstructures;
  • Preparation of sustainable polymer thin films;
  • New trends in polymer thin films and coatings.

Dr. Mohor Mihelčič
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

  • multifunctional thin film coating
  • novel materials for polymer thin films
  • characterization
  • industrial applications
  • life cycle assessment of polymer thin films

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

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 5967 KiB  
Article
Reinforcement of Oracle Bones Using a Novel Silicone Coupling Reagent for Preservation
by Feng Gao, Qiyu Liu, Peipei Wang and Yongge Liu
Coatings 2024, 14(11), 1430; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings14111430 - 11 Nov 2024
Viewed by 454
Abstract
Oracle bones are artifacts of great significance and value in the study of Chinese history and culture. Because of soil and bacterial erosion, bones become fragile, and the inscriptions on the surface become blurred, resulting in the loss of historical information on the [...] Read more.
Oracle bones are artifacts of great significance and value in the study of Chinese history and culture. Because of soil and bacterial erosion, bones become fragile, and the inscriptions on the surface become blurred, resulting in the loss of historical information on the bones. In early times, scholars often used adhesives for bonding and reinforcement, whereas in modern times, organic and inorganic materials have been used as reinforcement for oracle bones. In this study, the surface of oracle bone was protected and reinforced by a new silicone coupling reagent that could self-polymerize in the format of colorless solution with good antimicrobial properties. The DESPMA was applied to the surface of oracle bone by dropwise addition and curing, effectively protecting it from bacteria and slowing down the yellowing process. The results showed that the reagent could significantly improve the antimicrobial properties of bone samples and reduce the yellowing and discoloration caused by bacterial attack. The reagent barely affected the appearance of the bone samples. These findings are promising and valuable for effective application in bone protection and utilization. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Thin Films: From Fundamentals to Applications (Second Edition))
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9 pages, 2040 KiB  
Article
Preparation of Antistatic Polyester Fiber via Layer-by-Layer Self-Assembly
by Wei Wang, Jialong Zhang, Yifan Liu, Mengyun Weng and Yanchun Fu
Coatings 2024, 14(10), 1236; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings14101236 - 25 Sep 2024
Viewed by 608
Abstract
Polyester fibers tend to generate static electricity during the weaving and application processes, posing a threat to their production. Enhancing the water absorbency and electrical conductivity of polyester fibers themselves is an effective approach to improving their antistatic properties. In this study, multifunctional [...] Read more.
Polyester fibers tend to generate static electricity during the weaving and application processes, posing a threat to their production. Enhancing the water absorbency and electrical conductivity of polyester fibers themselves is an effective approach to improving their antistatic properties. In this study, multifunctional chitosan (CS), sodium phytate (SP), and Cu2+ were loaded on polyester fibers through layer-by-layer (LBL) self-assembly. The antistatic and water absorption capability of the modified polyester fibers was investigated by designing different process parameters combined with a surface resistance test and water contact angle tests. The antistatic property test results confirmed the positive effect of CS and Cu2+ on discharging electrostatic charge. Within a definite scope, with the increase in the number of assembly layers, assembly duration, and the concentration of the assembly substances, the wettability of the modified polyester fibers became more favorable and the antistatic effect became more remarkable. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Thin Films: From Fundamentals to Applications (Second Edition))
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20 pages, 5733 KiB  
Article
Optimization of Preparation Process for Chitosan-Coated Pomelo Peel Flavonoid Microcapsules and Its Effect on Waterborne Paint Film Properties
by Jinzhe Deng, Tingting Ding and Xiaoxing Yan
Coatings 2024, 14(8), 1003; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings14081003 - 8 Aug 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 911
Abstract
In order to prepare chitosan-coated pomelo peel flavonoid microcapsules with antibacterial properties, chitosan was used as the wall material for the purpose of coating the core material, pomelo peel flavonoids. The pH of the microcapsule crosslinking reaction was 7.5, the mass ratio of [...] Read more.
In order to prepare chitosan-coated pomelo peel flavonoid microcapsules with antibacterial properties, chitosan was used as the wall material for the purpose of coating the core material, pomelo peel flavonoids. The pH of the microcapsule crosslinking reaction was 7.5, the mass ratio of the microcapsule core material to the wall material was 1:1, and the concentration of the emulsifier was 1%. The microcapsules obtained under these preparation conditions exhibited superior performance, morphology, and dispersion. Additionally, the yield and coating rates were recorded at 22% and 50%, respectively. To prepare the paint film, the microcapsules were added into the coatings at varying concentrations of 0%, 3.0%, 6.0%, 9.0%, 12.0%, and 15.0%. The antibacterial efficacy of the paint film for both bacteria was progressively enhanced with the incorporation of microcapsules. The antibacterial efficacy against Staphylococcus aureus was observed to be higher than that against Escherichia coli. As the content of microcapsules increased, the color difference in the paint film increased, the gloss loss rate increased, and the light transmission rate reduced. The tensile property and elongation at break reduced, and the roughness increased. At a microcapsule content of 6.0%, the paint film exhibited superior overall performance, with an antibacterial efficacy against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus of 46.3% and 56.7%, respectively. The color difference was 38.58. The gloss loss rate was 41.0%, the light transmission rate was 90.4%, and the paint film exhibited a large elastic region, with an elongation at break of 21.5% and a roughness of 1.46 μm. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Thin Films: From Fundamentals to Applications (Second Edition))
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19 pages, 7884 KiB  
Article
Preparation of Chitosan-Coated Toddalia asiatica (L.) Lam Extract Microcapsules and Its Effect on Coating Antibacterial Properties
by Ye Zhu, Ying Wang and Xiaoxing Yan
Coatings 2024, 14(8), 942; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings14080942 - 27 Jul 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 731
Abstract
Antibacterial microcapsules were prepared using chitosan as the shell material and Toddalia asiatica (L.) Lam extract as the core material. The optimal preparation process for the microcapsules of Toddalia asiatica (L.) Lam extract were determined via orthogonal and single-factor experiments as follows: the [...] Read more.
Antibacterial microcapsules were prepared using chitosan as the shell material and Toddalia asiatica (L.) Lam extract as the core material. The optimal preparation process for the microcapsules of Toddalia asiatica (L.) Lam extract were determined via orthogonal and single-factor experiments as follows: the mass ratio of Toddalia asiatica (L.) Lam extracts and chitosan (MT:MC) was 3.0:1, the pH value of microencapsulation was 7, and the reaction temperature was 50 °C. The MT:MC increased, the glossiness of the coatings increased and then decreased, the color difference and roughness of the coatings showed an increasing trend, the transmittance of the coatings decreased, the grade of citric acid resistance decreased, the resistance to ethanol and detergents of the coatings increased, and the fracture elongation of the coating increased and then fell. As the MT:MC of microcapsules increased, the antibacterial rates of the coating against Escherichia coli increased first, then decreased, and lastly increased. The trend of the coating against Staphylococcus aureus first increased and then decreased. When the microcapsule MT:MC was 3.0:1, the performance of the coating was better, and the antibacterial rates against the two bacteria were 67.14% and 68.39%, respectively. Toddalia asiatica (L.) Lam extracts endow waterborne coatings with antibacterial properties, expanding the application range of waterborne coatings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Thin Films: From Fundamentals to Applications (Second Edition))
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13 pages, 5818 KiB  
Article
Synthesis and Performance Evaluation of Bio-Sourced PO3G Ester Plasticizer in L-Polylactic Acid Thin Films
by Hongzhao Tian, Yiyi Zhu, Xinyue Kong, Jiao Long, Wan Zhao, Dengbang Jiang and Mingwei Yuan
Coatings 2024, 14(4), 461; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings14040461 - 11 Apr 2024
Viewed by 1039
Abstract
This study aims to synthesize and evaluate the properties of bio-sourced poly(1,3-propanediol) laurate (PO3G-LA) as a plasticizer in the fabrication of poly(1,3-propanediol) laurate/L-polylactic acid (PO3G-LA/PLLA) thin films. Utilizing an esterification reaction between poly(1,3-propanediol) (PO3G) and lauric acid (LA), PO3G-LA is synthesized and incorporated [...] Read more.
This study aims to synthesize and evaluate the properties of bio-sourced poly(1,3-propanediol) laurate (PO3G-LA) as a plasticizer in the fabrication of poly(1,3-propanediol) laurate/L-polylactic acid (PO3G-LA/PLLA) thin films. Utilizing an esterification reaction between poly(1,3-propanediol) (PO3G) and lauric acid (LA), PO3G-LA is synthesized and incorporated into PLLA films via solution casting. Results demonstrate that PO3G-LA exhibits excellent compatibility with PLLA, markedly enhancing the toughness and slightly improving the thermal stability of the resulting films. Specifically, the addition of 20% PO3G-LA increases the elongation at the break of the films to 190%, indicating enhanced flexibility. Accelerated degradation experiments conducted at 60 °C revealed that the presence of PO3G-LA under neutral conditions had minimal impact on the degradation rate of the film samples. Conversely, variations in the PO3G-LA content of the films when exposed to acidic and alkaline conditions were found to influence their degradation rates. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Thin Films: From Fundamentals to Applications (Second Edition))
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