Filler Morphology Research Articles

Synergistic Effects of Zn-Rich Layered Double Hydroxides on the Corrosion Resistance of PVDF-Based Coatings in Marine Environments

In this study, zinc–aluminum layered double hydroxide (ZLDH) and its calcined counterpart (CZLDH) were synthesized and incorporated into a poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) matrix to develop high-performance anti-corrosion coatings for mild steel substrates. The structural integrity, morphology, and dispersion of the LDH fillers were analyzed using FTIR, XRD, Raman spectroscopy, and SEM/EDS, while coating performance was evaluated through water contact angle (WCA), adhesion tests, and electrochemical techniques. Comparative electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and potentiodynamic polarization tests in a 3.5% NaCl solution revealed that the ZLDH/PVDF coating exhibited superior corrosion resistance and long-term stability compared to CZLDH/PVDF and pristine PVDF coatings. The intact lamellar structure of ZLDH promoted excellent dispersion within the polymer matrix, enhancing interfacial adhesion, reducing porosity, and effectively blocking chloride ion penetration. Conversely, calcination disrupted the lamellar structure of ZLDH, reducing its compatibility and adhesion performance within the PVDF matrix. This study demonstrates the critical role of ZLDH’s structural integrity in achieving enhanced adhesion, barrier properties, and corrosion protection, offering an effective anti-corrosion coating for marine applications.

Tailoring thermal conductivity and printability in boron nitride/epoxy nano- and micro-composites for material extrusion 3D printing

This study explores the design and characterization of boron nitride (BN)/epoxy nano- and micro-composites, utilizing material extrusion 3D printing as a powerful technique to align filler particles within the matrix and produce effective thermally conductive and electrically insulating adhesive materials with possible applications in electronics. Investigating the uncharted correlation between filler morphology, including both boron nitride microplatelets (BNMP) and boron nitride nanosheets (BNNS), processability by additive manufacturing (AM), and ink functionalities, BNMP proves more effective in boosting thermal conductivity, with an enhancement of up to 400%. Fillers, that can be highly oriented through material extrusion, contribute to achieving high glass transition temperature (up to 137 °C) and thermal resistance, expanding the inks’ applicability. Optimized inks demonstrate exceptional shape fidelity, enabling the fabrication of complex structures. The findings emphasize the crucial role of ceramic filler content and morphology in optimizing multifunctional 3D-printed materials' performance and tailoring their properties, offering insights for future innovations in electronic materials and manufacturing methodologies for thermal management applications.

Evaluation of high-entropy (Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni)-oxide nanofibers and nanoparticles as passive fillers for solid composite electrolytes

Solid-state electrolytes (SSEs) could represent the key to solve safety issues of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Among them, those obtained by homogenously dispersing inorganic nanofillers into a polymer matrix combine advantages of all SSE typologies. In this work, high-entropy (Cr,Mn,Fe,Co,Ni) oxide (HEO) with different morphology (nanoparticles or nanofibers) are evaluated as passive fillers for the preparation of composite polyethylene oxide (PEO)-based SSEs. By varying their preparation conditions (calcination at 400 or 800 °C for 0.5 or 2 h, followed by rapid cooling) different size and crystallization degree of the oxide grains are obtained. The results of the electrochemical testing of the PEO/HEO composites evidence the crucial role of the filler microstructure and morphology. The best results in terms of electrolyte resistance (22.5 Ω), electrochemical stability window (4.7 V), Li+ transference number (0.37) and ionic conductivity (3.0⋅10−4 S cm−1 at 65 °C) are obtained by using well crystallized HEO nanofibers with highly defective surface. The suitability of the most promising composite for practical applications is validated by successfully using it in full cell with commercial high-voltage cathode materials.

Interphase-Controlled Composite Electrolyte Based on LLZTO-Ionic Liquid for All Solid-State Battery

Solid-state electrolytes (SSEs) are promising alternatives to conventional liquid organic electrolytes in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), primarily due to their non-flammability and potential to reduce battery size. SSEs are categorized into three types: solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs), inorganic ceramic electrolytes (ICEs), and composite solid electrolytes (CSEs). Solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) offer good interface contact with electrodes but suffer from low ionic conductivity and poor mechanical stability. In contrast, inorganic ceramic electrolytes (ICEs) exhibit high ionic conductivity and excellent mechanical stability but have weak electrode contact due to stiffness. Composite solid electrolytes (CSEs) aim to combine the advantages of both SPEs and ICEs, utilizing inorganic filler and polymer host to enhance conductivity, mechanical stability, and electrode contact. Understanding the mechanisms behind the enhanced ionic conductivity of CSEs is important to getting the key. Previous studies have investigated various factors, including the type and morphology of fillers, with active fillers showing promise in improving conductivity by facilitating extra Li-ion transport and maintaining the amorphous phase of the polymer. However, the exact cause of enhanced conductivity remains unclear.This study proposes the use of ionic liquids to exclude the amorphous effect of polymers and compares the ionic conductivity with active fillers. Additionally, nanoparticles are introduced to form a solid phase without additional solvents, enhancing filler-polymer contact and promoting thixotropy in the electrolyte, which improves safety and stability. To investigate the interphase effect between filler and matrix, our study focuses on controlling the vacancy concentration on the filler surface using garnet-type oxide as the filler material. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis reveals a difference in oxygen vacancy (O-v) concentration between raw material and filled powder, indicating the influence of surface vacancies on ionic conductivity. Experimental results show that the addition of fillers increases the ionic conductivity of electrolytes, with lower oxygen vacancy concentrations leading to higher ionic conductivity. Distribution of relaxation time (DRT) analysis indicates low resistance in the electrolyte at most timescales, especially showing low diffusion resistance, suggesting improved ion transport properties. COMSOL Multiphysics simulations prove consistent electrolyte current density from the whole electrolyte, inducing uniform ion flux to electrodes. Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) and XPS depth profiles confirm thin and uniform growth of the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer, contributing to cycle stability.Overall, our study provides insights into the role of surface-controlled fillers in enhancing electrochemical properties and understanding ion-conduction mechanisms in composite solid electrolytes (CSEs). We explore the interphase effect between filler and matrix using Li conductive oxide. Vacancies on the filler surface impact electrolyte properties; fewer vacancies correlate with improved ionic conductivity and stability. Results show enhanced conductivity in surface-controlled electrolytes compared to host or composite electrolytes. Oxygen-filled electrolytes demonstrate superior thermal and electrochemical stability, promoting uniform SEI layer formation and enhancing specific capacity and cycle stability in Li metal half-cells. These findings contribute to developing safer, more efficient solid-state batteries for various applications. Figure 1

Ionic Transport Mechanism of All-Solid-State Lithium Batteries with Barium Titanate Nanofillers

Liquid electrolytes are widely used in rechargeable batteries but face challenges such as flammability, leakage, and limited ability to suppress dendrite formation. In contrast, solid-state electrolytes offer higher safety and better dendrite suppression capability, mitigating risks associated with liquid electrolytes. The materials that are commonly used for solid-state electrolytes include ceramics and polymers. Although ceramic electrolytes exhibit higher ionic conductivity with excellent dendrite suppression ability, their interfacial contact with electrodes is poor. In contrast, polymer electrolytes exhibit excellent interfacial contact with electrodes but suffer from lower ionic conductivity. Therefore, combining polymers as the matrix and ceramics as the fillers to form composite polymer electrolytes (CPEs) shows promise in enhancing their electrochemical properties.Ferroelectric materials, known for their ferroelectricity and high dielectric constant, have shown their potential as fillers to enhance ion transport and lithium salt dissolution in solid-state electrolytes. In this work, we choose BaTiO3 (BTO) as the filler due to its high dielectric constant and induced electric field under an applied electric field. The dielectric constant and ionic conductivity of CPEs is affected by the amount of added fillers, with an optimal content for conductivity and cycling performance. To date, few studies have explored the relationship and mechanism between the dielectric constant of ferroelectric material fillers and their electrochemical properties. We aim to investigate this relationship by adjusting grain size, morphology, and doping content of fillers to modify their dielectric constants, thereby deepening our understanding of this material system.

Twinned Metal-Organic Framework Nanoplates for Hydrocarbon Separation Membranes.

Filler morphology control is critical for enhancing the gas separation performance of mixed matrix membranes (MMMs). A vertical transport channel using the crystal twinning phenomenon is designed on the zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF) nanoplate. Twinned ZIF-8 (TZIF-8) nanoplate is prepared by controlling the shape of ZIF-L from nanosheet to twinned flake, followed by conversion into the ZIF-8 phase. With the addition of TZIF-8 in 6FDA-DAM polymer, propylene/propane selectivity is dramatically enhanced, showing propylene permeability of 40 Barrer and propylene/propane selectivity of 82. The separation performance surpasses the performance of MMMs reported so far, and the selectivity is comparable to that of polycrystalline ZIF-8 membranes. A transport mechanism study using mathematical models implies that the percolated twin fillers create rapid and selective gas channels for desired molecules and substantial tortuous pathways for undesired molecules.

Microstructural evolution and mechanical properties of Al2O3/Al joint bonded by Bi2O3-B2O3-SiO2-ZnO-Al2O3 glass

A glass filler of 60Bi2O3-20B2O3-10SiO2-5ZnO-5Al2O3(mol%) was utilized to join 99Al2O3 ceramic and Al alloy 1060 at low temperature, which effectively addressed the negative impact caused by the indelible oxide film on the aluminum surface during the conventional process. Prior to the joining process, the surface morphology and thermophysical properties of the glass filler were investigated. Additionally, the wetting behavior of the glass on both the Al2O3 substrate and Al substrate was confirmed. Subsequently, the interfacial microstructure of the Al2O3/Al joints was analyzed in detail and the mechanical properties of the joints were evaluated under different temperatures and holding times. The shear strength of the joints reached a maximum value of 30.25 ± 1.0 MPa at 460 °C for 30 min. The precipitation and growth of the Bi24B2O39 phase improved the mechanical properties of the joints with increasing temperature and holding time. However, high temperatures and long holding times resulted in the precipitation of a large number of crystals in the joints, leading to embrittlement, which severely reduced the mechanical properties of the joints.

Micromorphology tunable Eu2O3 submicron spheres reinforced boron-containing HDPE composites for neutron and gamma-ray complex radiation shielding

In this research, a series of Eu2O3/B4C/HDPE composites containing micromorphology tunable Eu2O3 submicron spheres as fillers are prepared for shielding neutron and gamma ray. The influence of microstructure of Eu2O3 fillers on thermal stability, mechanical, and radiation shielding properties of composites are studied in detail. The growth process of Eu2O3 precursor (Eu(OH)CO3) follows the LaMer and Ostwald ripening mechanism. The FESEM reveal that the microstructure of synthesized Eu2O3 is submicron sphere and the particle size decreases with addition of urea content in the reactant solution. HRTEM and SEAD images reveal that the overall crystal morphology of the Eu2O3 fillers is polycrystalline. BET analyses reveal that the hysteresis loops of nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms changes from Type H1 to H3 after Eu2O3 fillers are ball-milled, which is attributed to the suppression of nanoparticle agglomeration by ball milling. The FESEM images and EDS mapping of the fracture surfaces of the composites reveal that Eu2O3 fillers are evenly distributed in the HDPE matrix. It is revealed that under the condition that the agglomeration of the nanoparticles is effectively suppressed, the higher BET-specific surface area and smaller size of Eu2O3 fillers are conducive to the various properties of the composites. The superior composite containing Eu2O3 (R = 1:30)/B4C/HDPE has a 99.1 % neutron shielding rate with 15 cm thickness under a 252Cf neutron source and a 73.1 % gamma shielding rate with 15 cm thickness under a 137Cs gamma source.

Nanofibers endow NASICON-type Na3.3La0.3Zr1.7Si2PO12 electrolyte/Na4MnCr(PO4)3 cathode excellent electrochemical properties

All-solid-state sodium-ion batteries (ASSSIBs) using composite polymer electrolytes (CPEs) are promising candidates for addressing the high cost, safety issues, and limited energy density of traditional lithium-ion batteries. The microstructure and morphology of active ceramic filler and cathode seriously affect the construction of ion/electron transport channels and electrochemical performance, while the contact tightness at the electrode/CPE interface determines the release of energy storage performance in ASSSIBs. Here, NASICON-type Na3.3La0.3Zr1.7Si2PO12 (NLZSP) ceramic nanofibers (NFs) and Na4MnCr(PO4)3@C (NMCP@C) NFs are prepared via electrospinning. NLZSP long NFs (L-NFs) can be uniformly dispersed in PVDF-HFP using ultrasonic treatment to create rapid ion transport pathways within the ceramic and polymer/ceramic interphases, enabling the CPE to achieve high ionic conductivity of 3.36 × 10−4 S·cm−1, wide electrochemical stability window (ESW) exceeding 5 V, low activation energy (Ea) of 0.28 eV and sodium-ion transference number (TNa+) of 0.65 at room temperature. Meanwhile, NMCP@C NFs can enhance electron conductivity and reduce the sodium ion migration path, and finally achieve a superhigh specific capacity (161 mAh·g−1) and energy density (534 Wh·kg−1) at 0.1C. Additionally, the integrated NMCP@C/CPE structure is incorporated into NMCP@C/CPE//Na solid state sodium metal batteries (SMBs), which exhibits excellent rate performance and high capacity retention of 78.8 % at 1C (1.4–4.3 V) and 70.5 % at 0.5C (1.4–4.6 V) after 200 cycles. This study offers valuable insights into constructing high-performance ASSSIBs.

Advanced and sustainable EMI shielding composites: Natural rubber-nitrile rubber blends enhanced with hydrothermally synthesized Polyaniline Nanofibers and spinel strontium ferrites

Conductive fillers, such as metals and carbon compounds, often exhibit lower compatibility with polymer matrices, leading to agglomeration phenomena that negatively impact the processing and performance of composites. Polyaniline (PANI) nanofibers, with their high conductivity, rapidly create conductive pathways upon contact, reducing current leakage and dielectric loss in composites. To address the compatibility challenges between fillers and matrices, this study adopts a simple, cost-effective approach for synthesizing highly efficient EMI shielding composites. Specifically, we employ hydrothermal synthesis to enhance the properties of PANI nanofibers and spinel strontium ferrites, significantly improving their performance as filler particles. By modifying the morphology of the conductive fillers and incorporating magnetic particles wrapped with an insulating polymer layer, we enhance filler-matrix compatibility. Notably, the synthesized system is a composite made of natural rubber, highlighting its relevance and importance in the current era. This approach not only improves compatibility but also leverages the sustainable properties of natural rubber, making it a significant advancement in the field of EMI shielding materials. In this paper, we report a flexible EMI shielding composite with efficient EM wave absorption, prepared using a natural rubber-nitrile rubber blend as the matrix, and hydrothermally synthesized improves polyaniline nanofibers and spinel strontium ferrite as functional fillers. The shielding efficiency (SET) increases up to 36 dB with different PANI-SrFe2O4wt percentages. This demonstrates the potential of composite for high-performance applications.

Constructing CO2 capture nanotraps via tentacle-like covalent organic frameworks towards efficient CO2 separation in mixed matrix membrane

The structure and morphology of fillers are crucial factors in the process of CO2 separation within mixed matrix membranes (MMMs). In this study, the tentacle-like covalent organic framework (COF) as a filler was incorporated into the Pebax matrix for CO2/CH4 separation. The COF has abundant Lewis base sites (O atom and N atom) and porous pores, thereby constructing efficient CO2 capture nanotraps in the MMMs. The CO2 capture nanotraps facilitate the CO2 transport in the MMMs, and this can be verified by the Grand Canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) simulation and density functional theory (DFT) calculation. Simultaneously, the CO2 capture nanotraps are distributed on the surface of tentacle-like COF, which is conducive to strengthening CO2 capture ability. Therefore, Pebax/COF MMMs exhibited superior CO2 gas separation performance compared to the pure Pebax membrane. Among them, the MMM with 3 wt% COF loading displayed the highest CO2 gas separation performance, exhibiting permeability and selectivity that were 73.4% and 32.9% higher than the pure Pebax membrane, respectively. Thus, CO2 capture nanotraps constructed in the MMMs via tentacle-like COF showed a promising potential for CO2 separation.

Effect of filler morphology on mechanical behaviour of Mg/HA nanocomposites for degradable implant applications

Abstract Magnesium (Mg) alloys exhibit promising potential for biodegradable orthopaedic applications, with the incorporation of hydroxyapatite (HA), which offers a means to tailor their bioactivity and biodegradation behavior. In this study, the effect of filler morphology on mechanical behaviour and biocorrosion of the Mg/HA composites is analysed. Two distinct morphologies of nano-hydroxyapatite (nHA), needle-like and flake-shaped, were incorporated into Mg using a stir-casting technique. The incorporation of nHA led to a notable increase in hardness, with enhancements of 15% for needle-like nHA and 29% for flake-like nHA. Moreover, the ultimate compressive strength exhibited a significant improvement of 29% for the flake-shaped nHA and 12% for the needle-like nHA. Interestingly, the morphological variation did not impact the degradation behaviour of the composites. Based on these findings, it is proposed that Mg metal matrix composites utilizing bioactive flake-shaped nHA as a filler material hold promise for enhancing the mechanical properties of Mg/HA nanocomposites, particularly for load-bearing implant applications.

Methodology to determine printability criteria of highly concentrated pastes through rheological characterization

Material extrusion is an additive manufacturing technique that enables the creation of reproducible and complex hardware by depositing a viscous, shear-thinning ink onto a substrate in a custom-pattern via extrusion through a syringe. The ability of an ink to be extruded onto a substrate in many layers, and maintain the desired shape is what defines the printability. Printability is often investigated by formulating, printing, and postmortem analysis of final parts in an iterative manner. Investigations of printability through rheological characterization have often been concerned with inks that straddle the line between printable and too thin, leaving out an entire class of inks that are highly concentrated pastes, where extrudability is the limiting factor. Highly concentrated pastes continue to pose issues for researchers as the effect of filler morphology, size, loading, and packing fraction on the ink rheology and corresponding printability is not understood. While traditional rheological characterizations may be useful for some inks, we show that protocols utilizing steady shear, or large-amplitude oscillator shear are difficult and unreliable for highly concentrated pastes. Through transient rheology paired with real time images we show that each traditional protocol produces inhomogeneous deformations that violate the assumptions that underly common rheological definitions. Instead, we demonstrate metrics measured with small-amplitude oscillatory shear that are correlated to the printability of various ink formulations ranging in loading. The rheological measures that accurately predict the printability of the inks are the axial stress measured at small amplitudes, and the critical stress amplitude above which rheological characterizations become impossible. In addition, we estimate the maximum packing fraction for each filler, based on the exponent common to hard sphere models, and show that the printability of each ink can be predicted by the ratio of the packing fraction to the theoretical maximum. We show how small amplitude oscillatory shear allows users to develop printability criteria for any ink to enhance the workflow in the development of new inks, increase the performance of material extrusion printing, and improve the stability of printed parts, with less wasted time and materials.

Exploring the filler morphology and temperature‐dependent compressive response of glass‐filled epoxy composites: Insights from experiments and viscoplastic simulations

Exploring the filler morphology and temperature‐dependent compressive response of glass‐filled epoxy composites: Insights from experiments and viscoplastic simulations

Morphology characteristics of filler particles and their effects on the low–temperature cracking behavior of asphalt mastics

The article concerned on particle morphology of mineral filler and its impact on mastic cracking property at low temperatures. Limestone and granite fillers with four-sized groups were prepared and further investigated using a simplex-centroid experimental design. The particle morphologies of each filler were captured using a digital image processing. By applying bending beam rheometer tests, mastic cracking behavior was investigated at low temperatures. Results show that compared with granite filler, each limestone filler shows less regular contour shape (except l1), less abundant angularity (except l1, l2, l5 and l17) and surface texture when performed by a simplex-centroid experimental design. The established fractional derivative Burgers model considering creep damage can effectively describe mastic cracking behavior at low temperatures. Composite fractal dimension is the decisively relevant factor with mastic relaxation behavior. Moreover, mastic creep damage is obviously affected by composite morphology characteristics and filler lithology with increasing loading time. All the results are instructive to inform researches of the selection of mineral filler with appropriate particle morphology that will produce asphalt materials with desired performance.

Influence of magnesium and calcium sulfate whisker on crystallization characteristics of poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) and Poly(butylene succinate)

Inorganic fillers of whisker-like morphology are considered promising materials, and they have gained significant attention in recent years as a substitute for glass fibers due to their fibrous surface characteristics and extremely low bulk density. This study selected magnesium sulfate whiskers (MSWs) containing crystal water and pure calcium sulfate whiskers (CSWs) as fillers. They were physically blended with biodegradable polymers PBAT and PBS in a range of 0.1 wt.% to 2 wt.% to form composite materials. The non-isothermal crystallization behavior of the composite materials was studied using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The data indicated that with an increase in whisker content, the crystallization temperature (Tc) of composites increased, and the addition of a small amount of whiskers led to a reduction in the half-crystallization time of the composite materials, indicating the crystallization capacity of the materials has been enhanced to varying degrees. Analysis via POM unveiled a consistent pattern of decreased spherulite size and heightened spherulite count with the introduction of whiskers. This phenomenon is ascribed to the whisker fillers’ function as nucleating agents within the polymer matrices, thereby stimulating the crystallization process. Interestingly, the findings suggest that CSWs exert a more significant influence on crystallization than MSWs, likely due to the distinct single fiber morphology of the former filler.

Polyurethane-based thin-film composites with carbon micro- to nanoscale fillers and their microwave properties

Polyurethane-based thin-film composites (PUR-based TFCs) with different carbon fillers, namely, carbon flocs formed by carbon dots (CDs) containing O, N, and F heteroatoms and carbon nanotubes (CNTs), were prepared by hot pressing. The morphology and composition of the carbon fillers were investigated by SEM/EDX. Temperature-programmed desorption mass spectrometry and thermogravimetric analysis revealed that the CNTs have the highest thermostability among the fillers. Microwave studies in the X-band showed that the PUR-based TFCs with the CNTs were characterized by higher reflection losses and lower transmission losses than the PUR-based TFCs with the flocs formed by the studied CDs.

Bionic modified h-BN loaded CeO2 nanoparticles to improve the anti-corrosion properties of composited epoxy coatings

Hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN), as a two-dimensional lamellar material, has been paid more and more attention in the field of corrosion protection because of its excellent thermal stability, chemical stability and insulation. In order to solve the problem that h-BN is difficult to disperse in resin, inspired by the adhesion ability of mussel secretions, the surface of h-BN was modified with polydopamine (PDA) to improve the dispersion of the fillers in epoxy resin, and the prepared corrosion inhibition CeO2 nanoparticles were loaded on the surface. A functional filler CeO2&PDA/h-BN with corrosion inhibition effect was prepared. The surface morphology, chemical structure and thermal stability of functional fillers were analyzed by SEM, FTIR, XRD and thermogravimetric analysis. The test results show that after 40 days of testing, the low-frequency impedance modulus of the epoxy composite coating is 15 times that of the pure epoxy resin, and the wear resistance properties also significantly improved. The anti-corrosion mechanism of the composite coating is analyzed, and the synergistic effect of h-BN's barrier ability and CeO2's corrosion inhibition ability is revealed. This paper provides an idea for the preparation of multifunctional h-BN composite anticorrosive filler.

A flexible magneto-electric sensor with enhanced performance through flower-shaped BTO fillers in P(VDF-TrFE) matrix

A flexible magneto-electric(ME) sensor, incorporated a piezoelectric layer with flower-shaped Barium Titanate (BTO) fillers(referred as BTFs) in P(VDF-TrFE) matrix and a ferromagnetic Metglas layer[P(VDF-TrFE)@BTFs/Metglas], has been developed. The introduction of flower-shaped BTO fillers enhances the β-phase of P(VDF-TrFE), leading to improved piezoelectric properties. The unique flower-like structure provides a larger specific surface area and increased grain size, resulting in interface asymmetry and creating a more intricate contact interface between P(VDF-TrFE) and Metglas. This strengthens the interaction and facilitates strain transmission, ultimately enhancing the ME coupling performance of the system. Moreover, the flexible ME detector exhibits superior magnetic field detection capabilities, demonstrating enhanced sensitivity and resolution compared to its spherical BTO counterpart. The devices display exceptional linearity, indicating the potential for practical application as magnetic sensors. This research expands the understanding of the complex relationship between filler morphology and P(VDF-TrFE) properties, presenting promising potential for high-performance flexible ME devices.

A novel organic-inorganic two-dimensional filler for composite coating with excellent mechanical and high-pressure CO2 anti-corrosion performance

organic-inorganic composite fillers were successfully prepared by a simple one-pot film-like coating of poly (α-cyanoethyl acrylate) (PECA) on mica. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and thermogravimetric analysis (TG) were used to analyze the structure, morphology, and chemical composition of the organic-inorganic composite filler and pure mica in detail. The organic-inorganic composite filler was added to epoxy resin to prepare a composite coating with long-lasting anti-corrosion and wear-resistance properties. The composite coating was characterized by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), high-pressure CO2 corrosion tests, friction performance tests, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and adhesion performance tests. The mechanical test results showed that the average wear quality of the EP/P30&M(8/2) composite coating prepared with the modified filler was reduced to 65.7 % of that of the EP/MICA(8/2) coating. The addition of the modified filler to the coating substantially improved the wear resistance and crosslinking of the composite coating, reduced the porosity, increased the density, and effectively improved the overall performance of the composite coating. The results of high-pressure CO2 corrosion tests in harsh environments and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy showed that the composite coating had excellent barrier capacity. After high-pressure CO2 corrosion tests, the EP/P20&M(9/1) composite coating still has a high impedance modulus value of 6.348 × 1010 Ω/cm2 at 0.01 Hz, which is 5 orders of magnitude higher than that of the pure epoxy coating, and showsed excellent long-lasting corrosion resistance in EIS tests. This study provides new ideas for the industrial application of mica and the preparation of long-lasting anti-corrosion coatings.