The Use of Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy as a Screening Method for Determination of Hydrolytic Stability of Poly(ethyl 2-cyanoacrylate)

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The manuscript entitled “The use of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy as a screening method for determination of hydrolytic stability of Poly(ethyl cyanoacrylate)” explores a new approach to study the hydrolytic stability of poly(ethyl 2-cyanoacrylate) films on mild steel substrates using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The exploratory work is an undoubted advantage which allows gaining new knowledge and developing new methods. It is noteworthy that the authors compared the results with the standard industrial mode. The text is structured and the necessary sections are present except for the Conflict of Interest section, which should be added. The obtained results are clearly presented. The conclusions correspond to the results obtained during the study. There are minor comments that do not reduce the good impression of the work.

1. Figure 1. The increment on the Y-axis should be changed (10⁰ 10² 10⁴) otherwise the axis looks busy. Images A, B, C could be slightly enlarged.

2. Conclusion. Please change the phrase “even after a half a day” and indicate the number of hours.

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

This study investigates the hydrolytic stability of poly(ethyl cyanoacrylate) adhesive films using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), specifically examining the effects of salicylic acid and phthalic anhydride additives. The paper demonstrates the effectiveness of EIS as a non-destructive method for monitoring adhesive degradation.
The manuscript is recommended for publication after addressing the following points:

1. The manuscript needs to include detailed information about the mixing process of additives (SA and PA) with ECA. The mixing procedure and methodology, including specific conditions such as temperature and time, should be clearly described to ensure experimental reproducibility.

2. The study uses specific concentrations of additives (0.05% PA and 0.5% SA) without explanation. The manuscript should address the rationale for selecting these particular concentrations and the potential effects of concentration variation on hydrolytic stability.

3. In Figure 3, the "Plot Area" annotation is unnecessary and should be removed to improve the clarity of the data presentation.

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Dear authors,

please check the comments for improving your manuscript:

-1,2 as superscripts in author names

-"poly (" no space before the parenthesis

-"PA film" I would propose the "PA-containing film", since phthalic anhydride cannot form a film by itself

-h instead of hours, min for minutes, eg. ie. in italics

-PECA stands for poly(ethyl 2-cyanoacrylate), instead of poly-ECA, replace throughout the text! Similarly, it's PBCA, not "poly-butyl CA"

-I would propose PA/PECA, but PA-film is not false totally

 -remove keyword polyECA, replace "tensile/accelerated ageing testing" with "tensile testing" and "accelerated ageing"

-CA’s...?

-I would propose "instant glue" instead of "super glue", the impressive is their rapidity not their strength

-"“daughter” polymer" what do you mean? offspring, child? descendant

-proper writing "poly(cyanoacrylic acid)"

-I think the segment "PA acts as a beneficial film modifier, whereas SA acts as a Lewis base scavenger and has a negative influence on polymer hydrolytic stability. Both have a low impact on ECA monomer viscosity." belongs to discussion or Conclusion part...

-lines 79, 96, 238: check spaces between the words, repetitions. Plus, I think the last paragraph of Introduction should move up, to pre-last paragraph

-Remove abbreviations like (GBMS) or IPA, not needed, not generally-used... isopropyl alcohol with lowercase letters, no major name

-you may replace x with the Math symbol ×

-Could you explain Rs(Cf[Rf(Cdl[Rct])]) more clearly? Is is an equation, a code, sth else?

-Which Alaldite system applided? In what temperature cured?

-please enlarge Fig. 1 to see clearly the Y-axes scale

-"3.5% NaCl" is w/v concentration?

-keep a space before units, pe. 65 ^oC

-I would propose to write the hydrolysis reactions that may occur, regarding PECA and the salycilic acid and phthalic anhydrite

-please clarify in text, wherever you think appropriate: "SA containing film" is when the acid is mixed with the monomer ECA and polymerization occurs afterwards, so this is a mix, a SA-containing film. If there is an coating, on a substrate, this is an adhesion/coated system...

-You may comment on the -COOH group acid has, while anhydrite has removed away the water molecules by its structure (as you say "surface active (SA) and surface inactive (PA) additives")

-"post cured poly-ECA< PA < poly-ECA < SA" they are all films ? They should be written differently, pe. PA/PECA film

-"0.05%" is w/w or w/v concentrations?

-the room RH is of some importance for your measurements? I suppose no, since you have ageing liquids that they are harder

-check references according to the journal's guidance

-Check, if wish, the publication https://doi.org/10.3390/macromol3030035 for some extra understanding of polymerization and ageing of PECA

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Round 2

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Dear authors,

take care of "polishing" your text:

-space line 41 "..., line 129 (saturated)..., line 175, line 209

-Fig. 1 captions: (a) or (B) (C), capitals?

-iso-propanol, in italics

--h instead of hours

-Fig. 2: two (a)?

-space line after Table 1? Too much space before Table 1?

-conflict of interest in single line

-reference style different than journal's indications

Author Response

Please see attached...

Author Response File: Author Response.docx