Articles
Publication Date: 2023/12/22
Iranian Journal of Polymer Science and Technology (10163255)36(5)pp. 487-508
Traditional anti-corrosion coatings only act as a passive barrier on the metal substrate and have no active protective function if the coating on the surface is damaged. Recent smart anti-corrosion coatings can greatly increase the lifespan of the coating. On the other hand, self-healing technology in polymer coatings is a preventive method to progress of corrosion process on the surface of metals. This technique has been developed in order to prevent the growth and propagation of cracks in the early stages and to repair the damage automatically without external intervention. The increasing trend of published scientific articles shows that the use of anti-corrosion smart polymer coatings with self-healing capability has received much attention. In this type of coatings, corrosion inhibitors and healing agents can be loaded together or separately in spherical or nanofiber micro-carriers. In the case of damage of the coating surface, the anti-corrosion as well as healing processes trigger simultaneously to prevent the corrosion progress of the metal surface. The purpose of this study is to review novel epoxy-based coatings with self-healing and anti-corrosion properties. For this purpose, the self-healing mechanisms, methods of implementation of self-healing materials and anticorrosion agents on the coating have been reviewed and categorized. The use of polymer microcapsules with core-shell structures in the form of spherical particles or electrospun nanofibers in self-healing coating has been described. Various nanofiber systems have been classified in terms of the location of restorative and anticorrosion materials, the type of polymer shell and core materials, the electrospinning methods of nanofibers, and the method of dispersing within the coatings, for simultaneous anti-corrosion and self-healing properties. Finally, the recent studies on the coatings containing conductive and/or green nanofibers have been reviewed.
Publication Date: 2026
Synthetic Metals (03796779)317
In this study, nanocomposites of conductive polymers (polyaniline and polypyrrole) with metal oxide nanoparticles (SnO₂ and ZnO) were synthesized and evaluated as ammonia sensors exposed to single-gas or binary-gas mixtures (ammonia with methanol, ethanol, or acetone) at room temperature. Sensor composites were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV–vis), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM), that revealed the microstructural features influencing sensor performance. Taguchi experimental design was, first used to quantify the effects of polymer type, nanoparticle type, and nanoparticle loading on gas sensor response and selectivity when exposed to ammonia as single gas. The second experimental design was used to study the effect of these factors in presence of an interfere gas showing that the conductive polymer type dominated sensor behavior, while nanoparticles provided synergistic, polymer-dependent enhancements in charge transfer and active-site availability. Coexisting vapors affected ammonia detection, with acetone producing the least interference. The PAni/SnO₂ (20 wt%) composite was identified as optimal, delivering high ammonia response and selectivity. Long-term stability tests after 18 month, demonstrated a retention of over 86 % of the initial response, and cycling experiments confirmed repeatable operation. In addition, it we found that the moderate relative humidity (RH) enhances protonic conduction, while high RH partially reduces response due to polymer swelling. This work establishes a rationally engineered polymer–metal oxide nanocomposite platform for selective, durable ammonia sensing under realistic mixed-gas and humidity conditions. © 2025 Elsevier B.V.
Publication Date: 2025
Journal of Polymer Research (15728935)32(3)
Polystyrene (PS) fibers were fabricated via one-step electrospinning process, using tetrahydrofuran (THF) and N, N-dimethylformamide (DMF) as mixed solvent. The properties and structure of fibers were characterized by XRD, FTIR, DSC, FESEM, BET, and tensile strength analyses. The effect of operating parameters on the fiber structure in the electrospinning process was evaluated using the Taguchi experimental design. The production of fibers with a uniform surface, dense nanopores, and bead-free morphology can be controlled by optimizing the electrospinning conditions. For this purpose, the effects of solvent composition, solution concentration, feeding rate, and applied voltage were studied. The performance of the fibers was evaluated through adsorption and selectivity tests. The adsorption capacity of the fibers was measured using three different oil sources: sunflower oil, motor oil, and crude oil. The selectivity performance of the fibers was assessed with dispersed and dissolved crude oil in water. The results revealed that the maximum oil adsorption capacities of PS fibers for sunflower oil, motor oil, and crude oil were 58.4, 68.5, and 61.1 g/g, respectively. Furthermore, the PS fibers demonstrated excellent oil–water selectivity in the treatment of oily water. Moreover, polyaniline (PANI) was incorporated as a conductive polymer to enhance the properties of electrospun fibers. The conductive fibers exhibited improved microstructural properties and performance compared to PS fibers. The motor oil adsorption capacity increased to 71.5 g/g with the conductive PS/PANI fibers. The results of this study demonstrate that the conductive and hydrophobic PS/PANI fibers, as selective adsorbents, possess a high capacity for the adsorption of various oils. © The Polymer Society, Taipei 2025.
