Functional Polymer Coatings and Films: Synthesis, Properties and Applications

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 December 2024 | Viewed by 1332

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Naval Air Warfare Center Weapos Division (NAWCWD), Advanced Materials Branch, 1900 N. Knox Road (Stop 6303), China Lake, CA 93555-6106, USA
Interests: organic–polymer chemistry; smart coatings/films

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Guest Editor
Center for Biomolecular Science and Engineering, Code 6900, US Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC 20375, USA
Interests: protective coatings; distributed sensing; environmental monitoring; self-decontaminating materials, and natural products
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Functional coatings and films encompass both adherent and standalone layers that are produced to offer an additive feature that upgrades, magnifies, or diversifies the performance of the material. These upgrades can include a range of incorporated functions and may support applications on any number of underlying materials.  Beyond passive and decorative layers, this Special Issue focuses on active materials such as those that sense changes in the environment and provide an appropriate response to stimuli or those that incorporate the control of both underlying molecular and nanostructures to obtain unique functions.  Coatings and films that offer multifunctional capabilities are also of interest, such as those that provide specific visual characteristics while also offering a self-cleaning action.  With increasing advances in inexpensive and safe deposition approaches, “smart”, “functional” and “dynamic” coatings are of greater utility and interest. Approaches to the preparation of these materials may include (a) coating additives that modify properties, (b) specialized ingredients that produce specific desirable properties in conventional coatings, and (c) the encapsulation of components that are released in response to specific conditions.  Depositions may be accomplished layer-by-layer, through dip or spin coating, by spray deposition, or through the use of non-traditional approaches. Several examples of functional coatings/films are listed below:

  • Stimuli-responsive;
  • Conductive;
  • Corrosion-inhibiting;
  • Antimicrobial;
  • Antifouling;
  • Hygienic systems;
  • Self-healing;
  • Self-cleaning;
  • Sensors;
  • Photocatalytic;
  • Super-hydrophobic;
  • Bio-decontamination ;
  • Bio-detection;
  • Colour-shifting;
  • Nano-engineered coatings;
  • Protective coatings;
  • Catalytic coatings;
  • Porous coatings.

The current trend in coatings technology is to control the coating composition on a molecular level and the morphology at the nanometer scale, producing innovative functional coatings/films with broad applications for military and industrial uses.

Dr. Peter Zarras
Dr. Brandy J. Johnson
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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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

  • functional polymers
  • functional coatings/films
  • stimuli-responsive

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

11 pages, 2737 KiB  
Article
Verification of Optimal X-Ray Shielding Properties Based on Material Composition and Coating Design of Shielding Materials
by Seon-Chil Kim, Jae-Han Yun, Hong-Sik Byun and Jian Hou
Coatings 2024, 14(11), 1450; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings14111450 - 14 Nov 2024
Viewed by 526
Abstract
Health care workers performing radiography on patients in hospitals typically wear aprons for radiation protection. Protective properties are achieved through a combination of shielding materials and polymers. Various shielding materials are mixed with polymers to prepare composite materials. Numerous methods have been devised [...] Read more.
Health care workers performing radiography on patients in hospitals typically wear aprons for radiation protection. Protective properties are achieved through a combination of shielding materials and polymers. Various shielding materials are mixed with polymers to prepare composite materials. Numerous methods have been devised to design and alter the composition of these materials to improve the shielding performance of aprons. In this study, the shielding performance was analyzed based on the arrangement of shielding materials, the composition of materials (mixed or single), and the fabrication design of the shielding sheets. Various shielding sheets were created using different arrangements of tungsten oxide, bismuth oxide, and barium sulfate, and their shielding efficacy was compared. The atomic number and density of the shielding material directly affect the shielding property. The effectiveness of the composite sheet increased by more than 5% when positioned close to the X-ray tube. Sheets fabricated from materials separated by type, rather than mixed, exhibited a greater X-ray shielding effectiveness because of their layered structure. Therefore, structural design considerations such as linings, outer layers, and inner layers of protective sheets should be considered for effective shielding in medical institutions. Full article
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23 pages, 19204 KiB  
Article
Investigations of the Interface Design of Polyetheretherketone Filament Yarn Considering Plasma Torch Treatment
by Toty Onggar, Leopold Alexander Frankenbach and Chokri Cherif
Coatings 2024, 14(11), 1424; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings14111424 - 8 Nov 2024
Viewed by 470
Abstract
Taking advantage of its high-temperature resistance and elongation properties, conductive-coated polyetheretherketone (PEEK) filament yarn can be used as a textile-based electroconductive functional element, in particular as a strain sensor. This study describes the development of electrical conductivity on an inert PEEK filament surface [...] Read more.
Taking advantage of its high-temperature resistance and elongation properties, conductive-coated polyetheretherketone (PEEK) filament yarn can be used as a textile-based electroconductive functional element, in particular as a strain sensor. This study describes the development of electrical conductivity on an inert PEEK filament surface by the deposition of metallic nickel (Ni) layers via an electroless galvanic plating process. To enhance the adhesion properties of the nickel layer, both PEEK multifilament and monofilament yarn surfaces were metalized by plasma torch pretreatment, followed by nickel plating. Electrical characterizations indicate the potential of nickel-coated PEEK for structural monitoring in textile-reinforced composites. In addition, surface energy measurements before and after plasma torch pretreatment, surface morphology, nickel layer thickness, chemical structure changes, and mechanical properties were analyzed and compared with untreated PEEK. The thickness of the Ni layer was measured and showed an average thickness of 1.25 µm for the multifilament yarn and 3.36 µm for the monofilament yarn. FTIR analysis confirmed the presence of new functional groups on the PEEK surface after plasma torch pretreatment, indicating a successful modification of the surface chemistry. Mechanical testing showed an increase in tensile strength after plasma torch pretreatment but a decrease after nickel plating. In conclusion, this study successfully developed conductive PEEK yarns through plasma torch pretreatment and nickel plating. Full article
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