This study systematically investigated the effects of surface treatment with five triethoxysilane coupling agents (TES), combined with heat treatment and electrochemical process parameters, on the adhesion and durability of aluminum (Al)–epoxy resin composites prepared via electrodeposition. The mechanism of TES action on the aluminum surface was analyzed by means of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), contact angle measurements, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and open-circuit potential measurements. Adhesion strength was evaluated using the surface and interface cutting analysis system (SAICAS), and durability was assessed through the copper-accelerated acetic acid salt spray (CASS) test. The experimental results indicate that TES molecules adsorbed onto the aluminum surface, forming a protective film without significantly altering surface roughness. All TES appeared to treatments improved the adhesion strength of the composite; among them, the combined treatment with aTES and nTES (aTES/nTES) yielded the optimal effect, with adhesion strength reaching 1.17 kN/m after heat treatment. Furthermore, the aTES/nTES treatment effectively inhibited corrosion and significantly enhanced the corrosion resistance of the composite in the CASS test, while showing negligible influence on the adhesion variation induced by electrochemical corrosion. This study suggests that precise selection and application of TES coupling agents can markedly enhance the comprehensive performance of Al-epoxy electrodeposited composites, providing essential theoretical and practical insights for the design and optimization of high-performance composite materials.
Pigments are used in paints, plastics, fabrics and cosmetics because they selectively absorb and reflect light to create color. The usage of conventional green pigments, which are based on chromium, is limited due to their severe toxicity. The development of chromium-free green inorganic pigments with similar color characteristics and stability remains challenging. Despite the wide exploration of the ZnO–CoO4 systems for the antimicrobial, photocatalytic and sensing application, their potential as a functional inorganic pigment is less explored. Moreover, combustion methods primarily relied on conventional fuels. In this context, the present study proposes a novel rutin-supported solution combustion strategy for the synthesis of ZnO–Co3O4 composite pigments which exhibit superior pigment attributes and performance. FTIR, XRD, XPS, UV-DRS, NIR, chromaticity coordinates, FESEM and EDX analyses were employed to investigate the synthesized pigments’ structure, morphology and optical characteristics. The Zn–O and Co–O bond stretching vibrations in the FTIR spectra revealed the formation of the ZnO–Co3O4 composites. The resultant product was highly crystalline with hexagonal wurtzite structure having crystallite sizes ranging from 25 to 45 nm. A bathochromic shift was observed in the UV-DRS, which is supported by the steady drop in the bandgap energies of the samples when compared to that of ZnO. All four samples possessed high NIR reflectance (59.97–71.76
This study systematically investigates the influence of hollow glass microsphere (HGM) particle size distribution on the comprehensive performance of a four-layer, fluorocarbon-based anticorrosive cool coating system designed for the exterior walls of storage tanks. Two commercially available HGMs with distinct median diameters (D50 = 62.25 μm and 15.10 μm) were selected. Beyond using them individually, they were blended in controlled proportions to create formulations with intermediate bimodal distributions (D50 = 44.90 μm and 29.99 μm). A comprehensive suite of laboratory tests was conducted to evaluate physical-mechanical properties, spectral reflectance, thermal conductivity, emissivity, and resistance to corrosion, chemicals, and weathering. The results reveal that while all HGM-containing coatings outperformed the HGM-free control in thermal insulation, the formulations with a bimodal particle size distribution (particularly the D50 = 44.90 μm) exhibited superior overall performance. This formulation achieved an optimal balance, featuring the lowest thermal conductivity (0.09 W/(m·K)), high solar reflectance (0.896), and the best resistance to acid, alkali, and accelerated weathering. Microstructural analysis attributed this enhancement to the dense packing and gradient distribution of mixed microspheres, which optimized the thermal and corrosive barrier. Field validation on three miniature simulated storage tanks confirmed the superior cooling effect of the D50 = 44.90 μm formulation. Furthermore, a side-by-side comparison on 1000 m3 operational gasoline storage tanks demonstrated that the optimized coating system significantly reduced wall, roof, and internal oil temperatures (by up to 3°C) compared to a commercial reference coating. This work presents a cost-effective strategy by partially substituting expensive small-diameter HGMs with larger, more economical ones, without compromising-and even enhancing-overall performance, successfully bridging the gap between laboratory development and practical field application.
Efficient hydrogen barrier coatings have become a critical measure for preventing hydrogen embrittlement on surfaces of hydrogen pipelines with the development of hydrogen energy. This study developed an inorganic nanohybrid material f-Al2O3@a-SiO2 with different ratios. An organic–inorganic hybridization method was employed to form a novel coating f-Al2O3@a-SiO2/EP to improve hydrogen barrier performance on X80 steel. Hydrogen barrier performance was evaluated through electrochemical hydrogen permeation experiments. Results from the permeation test indicated that the hydrogen resistance capability of f-Al2O3@a-SiO2(3:1)/EP coating increased by 94.2
Supercritical carbon dioxide assisted spraying is an emerging environmentally friendly coating technology, in which the viscosity plays a decisive role in the spraying performance and coating quality. However, the traditional viscosity measurement method is difficult to apply to the high solids coating system under the condition of scCO2, and the reliable viscosity data of this kind of mixture is still very scarce. In this study, a set of special viscosity measurement equipment which can operate under the condition of scCO2 was developed. Its linear measurement range was 0.06 1.7 Pa·s, and the correlation coefficient (R2) reached 0.9936. The device can achieve stable viscosity measurement in the range of pressure up to 20 MPa, temperature up to 100°C and CO2 composition 0–100
