durability – TechConnect Briefs

Characterization of durability and photocatalytic properties of TiO2 cement-based materials

Luongo N., Massari S., Spagnolo S.L., Diamanti M.V., Daniotti B., Pedeferri M.P., Politecnico di Milano, IT

The issue of maintenance is steadily emerging in the framework of the built environment, with a specific focus on durability and service life planning and sustainability evaluations, as the definition of a maintenance plan for [...]

Sustainable Technology Solutions – Natural rubber to replace plasticized PVC in exterior durable application – A case study by NZ Product Accelerator model of engagement of supply chain partners

De Silva K.K.G., Taylor M., Nilmini R., Kariyawasm S., Vithanachchi J., NZ Product Accelerator - University of Auckland, NZ

Rigid PVC is flexibilized by the addition of plasticizers such as phthalates to obtain the properties of elastomers. These plasticizers in the polymer matrix are not covalently bound to the main polymer chain, which makes [...]

Durable Superhydrophobic Coating

Nahum A. Panwar T., Dodiuk H., Kenig S., Barry C., Mead J., UMass Lowell, US

Bottom up cost-effective and durable superhydrophobic coatings were formulated using hydrophobic silica nanoparticles and epoxy binder at different epoxy-to-silica nanoparticle ratios. The localization of the silica nanoparticles in the dissolved epoxy oligomers before curing and [...]

Thin-shell Concrete Structures for Low Embodied and Operating Energy and Durability

Leighty B., Alaska Applied Sciences, Inc., US

Thin-shell concrete structures offer: 1. Low construction and life-cycle cost 2. Low embodied and operating energy 3. Durability 4. Earth-sheltering compatibility 5. Seismic, storm, and flood endurance 6. Minimum materials volume 7. Rapid shell construction [...]

Durable Superhydrophobic Coatings for Icephobic Applications

Nahum T., Mitra S., Panwar A., Barry C., Dodiuk H., Kenig S., Mead J., UMass Lowell, US

Recent studies about the application of superhydrophobic surfaces for anti-ice properties have found that ice adhesion strength is reduced significantly compared to bare aluminum surfaces, but these surfaces lack durability. In this work, bottom up [...]

Elastic Superhydrophobic Nanocomposites with Enhanced Mechanical Durability

Milionis A., Languasco J., Loth E., Bayer I.S., University of Virginia, US

The vast majority of superhydrophobic surfaces are very fragile which is their main limiting factor for commercialization. Improving their mechanical durability has been a major issue during the last years. In this work we demonstrate [...]

Durability of a superhydrophobic nanocomposite coating under extended replicated rain impact

Davis A., Yeong Y.H., Steele A., Bayer I., Loth E., DeCombarieu G., University of Virginia, US

The objective of this study was to test the mechanical durability of a polyurethane/organoclay nanocomposite modified with perfluoroalkyl methacrylic copolymer in conditions that replicate extended rain impact. Samples were impacted with 1.4 mm droplets at [...]

Impact of spray-casting height and pressure on durability and superhydrophobicity of nanocomposite coatings

Yeong Y.H., Davis A., Steele A., Loth E., Bayer I., De Combarieu G., Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, University of Virginia, US

Recently, researchers introduced a new technique to fabricate superhydrophobic coatings by spray-casting polymer-nanoparticle suspensions using an air-atomizing nozzle. Upon thermosetting, the deposited polymer networks crosslink to form a durable, superhydrophobic nanocomposite coating. However, while the [...]

Durability of Pt/MWCNT Nanocatalyst in High Temperature H3PO4/PBI PEMFC

Buazarand F., Khaledib H., Almoora K., Lia Q., Steenbergc T., Jensen J.O., Bjerruma N.J., technical university of denmark(DTU), DK

The newest development in the field of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) aims at higher operational temperatures above 100˚C [ ] which have been the main research focus at the Energy and Materials Science [...]

Reliability of Self-assembled Hydropobic Coatings: Chemical Resistance and Mechanical Durability

Kobrin B., Zhang T., Grimes M.T., Chong K., Nowak R., Chinn J., Applied Microstructures, US

We report on hydrophobic self-assembled monolayers (SAM) with an improved chemical and mechanical stability on both Al and Si substrates. These improvements are obtained using a relatively new molecular vapor deposition method - MVDTM, which [...]