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Fluoropolymer coatings demonstrate excellent chemical resistance and durability; however, their inherently low surface energy compromises adhesion and structural cohesion, particularly when exposed to aggressive environments. This study presents a scalable interfacial engineering strategy to enhance coating performance by integrating functionalized ground tire rubber (fGTR) into poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP). Postconsumer GTR is transformed into high-performance fillers through surface-initiated grafting of poly(acrylic acid), introducing polar groups capable of improving dispersion in an organic bisolvent system and facilitating strong hydrogen bonding with the matrix. At an optimal filler content of 7 wt %, fGTR-containing composites exhibit nearly 3-fold higher elongation at break and over double the fracture energy of unmodified formulations while maintaining thermal and dielectric stability. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy indicates sustained barrier performance, with low-frequency (0.1 Hz) impedance modulus remaining at approximately 1.3 × 10^9 ohm·cm^2 after 30 days in salt solution. Finite element modeling and cyclic corrosion testing validate improved stress distribution and long-term durability. Overall, this.... Read more

This study investigates the development of elastomer-modified perfluorocyclobutyl (E-PFCB) thermosetting polymer composites containing polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-modified silica as nanofiller and exhibiting enhanced corrosion protection. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy results revealed that the incorporation of silica significantly improved the composites' corrosion resistance, with an impedance modulus (|Z|0.1 Hz) for the PFCB/silica composite containing 5 % silica remaining above 106 Ω cm2 even over 30 d of immersion in a 3.5 wt% NaCl solution. This demonstrates the composite's superior ability to resist water uptake and electrolyte penetration. Potentiodynamic polarization scans showed a notable shift in corrosion potential from −700.2 mV for the unfilled E-PFCB to −101.1 mV for the 5 % silica composite, indicating lowered tendency for corrosion. Mechanical testing further confirmed the improvements in the composites' properties, with hardness values increasing as silica loading increased. The 5 % silica... Read more

Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) has emerged as a transformative analytical tool for advancing the understanding of nanoscale processes in polymer coatings and corrosion. Combining high spatial resolution with nondestructive imaging, KPFM can map electrochemical gradients, surface potentials, and charge distributions at coating-metal interfaces. This review highlights KPFM’s theoretical principles, recent methodological advancements─such as second harmonic and time-resolved KPFM─and its integration with complementary techniques like Raman and dielectric spectroscopy, and machine learning for predictive modeling. Comparative analyses with traditional electrochemical methods also emphasize KPFM’s ability to resolve localized phenomena and transient dynamics. While challenges including surface sensitivity and environmental effects persist, innovations in artificial intelligence, real-time imaging, and signal processing contribute to KPFM’s enhanced capabilities. With expanding applications in areas including smart coatings, energy storage, biomedical materials... Read more

Corrosion poses a significant threat to global infrastructure and economic stability. Organic coatings are commonly used to protect metallic structures from environmental damage due to their cost-effectiveness. However, these coatings can degrade over time, developing micro-cracks that weaken their protective properties. To assess the effectiveness of organic coatings, various performance tests are conducted to study their properties and protective mechanisms. Among these, the AC/DC/AC or accelerated cyclic electrochemical technique is a promising accelerated electrochemical method for evaluating corrosion resistance. This method offers advantages over traditional techniques by speeding up the degradation more efficiently, providing valuable insights into coating long-term performance. This review explores the intricacies of the aggressive nature of the AC/DC/AC method, how it can be leveraged as an accelerated tool for unraveling the electrochemical behavior of the coating-metal system for corrosion protection evaluation, and how it can be used to study coating degradation, aging, and self-healing... Read more

Soybean, a versatile global crop, holds significant potential for applications beyond the food industry, extending into sectors such as coatings, corrosion inhibition, composite materials, adhesives, and bioplastics. While extensive research exists on soybean food and feed uses, a comprehensive synthesis of its industrial applications remains limited. This review bridges this gap by examining soybean’s chemical composition, extraction technologies, and emerging industrial uses. We explore how advancements in mechanical, chemical, and enzymatic extraction methods enhance yield and sustainability, comparing their efficiency and environmental impact. Moreover, we discuss innovative applications of soybean derivatives, such as epoxidized and acrylated soybean oils in coatings, isoflavone-rich extracts for corrosion protection, and soybean-based biocomposites and adhesives, highlighting recent developments in each area. The potential of computational approaches (e.g. CROPGRO, machine learning algorithms, and density functional theory) is also reviewed for their ability to optimize... Read more

The demand for multifunctional, high-performance materials has driven advancements in surface-functionalized fillers for polymer composite coatings. Despite progress, integrating multiple protective properties within a single hybrid formulation remains a challenge. This review explores recent developments in surface and interfacial engineering of biosourced fillers, including nano- cellulose, and 2D materials like graphene oxide, MXenes, and layered double hydroxides, all of which have the potential to enhance the chemical resistance, mechanical strength, and thermal stability of polymer coatings. Key strategies include physical/chemical surface treatments, nanostructuring, and multiscale engineering to optimize cohesion, adhesion, and multivalent interactions among fillers, matrices, and substrates. The role of computational modeling in performance prediction and optimization is also discussed. The review concludes with current challenges and future directions, highlighting the importance of surface functionalization and interfacial engineering in developing next-generation, multi-functional, and protective polymer coatings. Read more

Fluoropolymers, particularly polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), have gained traction in high-performance coatings due to their robust mechanical properties, thermal stability, and chemical resistance. However, balancing PVDF's processability and electroactive β phase content is challenging, yet essential for effective corrosion-protective coatings. Hexafluoropropylene (HFP) is typically incorporated into PVDF to enhance processability and adhesion, but at the cost of reduced crystallinity and β phase content. Herein, we examined how varying the HFP content in PVDF-HFP coatings influenced the protection of carbon steel from different corrosive media (i.e. 3.5 wt% NaCl, 1 M HCl, and 1 M NaOH). Spectral, thermal, and structural properties confirm that higher HFP content enhances processability, adhesion, and hydrophobicity while decreasing crystallinity and β phase content. The copolymer with 15 % HFP exhibited superior corrosion protection, maintaining an average impedance modulus of ~10^6 Ω cm2 after 15 d of immersion and demonstrating excellent... Read more

In this study, inorganic-organic coatings composed of titanium dioxide (TiO2) as the ceramic component and poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP) as the polymer matrix, hybridized with nano-TiO2 particles, were developed for protecting mild steel (MS) from corrosion. Prior to TiO2 coating deposition, the MS substrates were pretreated with a bioinspired sub-layer of polydopamine to improve the surface coating adhesion, followed by uniform co-deposition of PVDF-HFP with varying concentrations of embedded nano-TiO2. The inclusion of nano-TiO2 further reinforces and densifies PVDF-HFP, providing added corrosion protection. The fabricated coatings were characterized by microscopy, spectroscopy, and diffraction technique, while the corrosion protection properties were evaluated by impedance, potentiodynamic polarization, salt spray, and cyclic corrosion tests. Results showed that both the PVDF-HFP matrix and TiO2 contents had substantial effects on the coatings’ thermal stability, hydrophobicity, and surface mechanical properties. The coatings also exhibited satisfactory corrosion resistance... See more

Fluoropolymers are gaining interest from the coating industry thanks to their mechanical integrity, thermal stability, hydrophobicity, and chemical inertness. However, their nonstick nature limits their applications as it often leads to poor film adhesion to various surfaces. While various approaches have been explored to improve fluoropolymer adhesion, their practical application remains restricted due to their complexity, cost, and environmental impact. In recent years, extracts from fruits, leaves, and plants have been used as eco-friendly additives for polymer coatings due to their ready availability, sustainability, low toxicity, and compatibility. Herein, soybean extracts (SEs) were employed as a green additive to enhance both the surface adhesion and corrosion protection of poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP) coatings on carbon steel. Results showed that the inclusion of SEs increased the affinity between the fluoropolymer coating and metal surface. This improvement is attributable to the presence of abundant heteroatoms and pi-electrons from isoflavones in SEs and their capability ... See more