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Polymers
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Polymer-Based Coatings: Principles, Development and Applications
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Polymer-Based Coatings: Principles, Development and Applications

A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymer Membranes and Films".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 October 2025 | Viewed by 3570

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Ian Wyman

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Chemistry, Queen's University, 90 Bader Lane, Kingston ON K7L 3N6, Canada
Interests: block copolymers; supramolecular chemistry; polymer-based coatings; packaging; self-assembly; cucurbit[n]urils; host–guest chemistry; materials science
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Polymer-based coatings fulfil a vital role in our daily lives. They can enhance the water- and grease-resistance of various materials, provide corrosion resistance, protect substrates against physical wearing, and enhance the appearance of materials. Polymer-based coatings can provide a highly effective and facile approach to impart unique properties to a material (such as wood, paper, metals, or other surfaces) that it would not otherwise possess. The theme of this Special Issue is focused on polymer-based coatings, such as those that can be used to improve the properties of a given substrate, provide a substrate with new properties, or help protect a substrate against damage or contamination. We welcome submissions focused on various aspects of polymer coatings, such as the development of new polymer-based coatings, the development of new strategies to apply coatings onto substrates, or other aspects of polymer coating research. Research papers, communications, and review articles are welcomed as contributions to this Special Issue. It is hoped that this Special Issue will provide valuable insights into this field of research.

Dr. Ian Wyman
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Polymers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • polymer-based coatings
  • self-cleaning materials
  • polymers
  • liquid repellent coatings
  • surface modification
  • films
  • surfaces
  • wettability

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 2326 KB  
Article
Preparation of Self-Healing Antifogging Hard Coatings Using Carboxy-Functionalized Polysilsesquioxanes and Oligo(ethylene glycol)s
by Seiya Morinaga, Rione Baba, Chino Fujii and Yoshiro Kaneko
Polymers 2025, 17(18), 2491; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17182491 - 15 Sep 2025
Viewed by 506
Abstract
Water-resistant antifogging hard coatings possessing self-healing properties were successfully prepared by applying N,N-dimethylformamide solutions containing the mixtures of carboxy-functionalized polysilsesquioxane (PSQ-2C) with oligo(ethylene glycol)s (OEGs; n = 2–6 and n = 2–4) at the feed functional group ratios (carboxy groups [...] Read more.
Water-resistant antifogging hard coatings possessing self-healing properties were successfully prepared by applying N,N-dimethylformamide solutions containing the mixtures of carboxy-functionalized polysilsesquioxane (PSQ-2C) with oligo(ethylene glycol)s (OEGs; n = 2–6 and n = 2–4) at the feed functional group ratios (carboxy groups in PSQ-2C/hydroxy groups in OEG) of 10:1 and 4:1, respectively, onto oxygen plasma–treated glass substrates, followed by heat drying, water immersion, and room-temperature drying. The formation of ester bonds in the resulting coatings, indicating the presence of a cross-linked structure, was confirmed via Fourier-transform infrared/attenuated total reflectance spectroscopy. Notably, the coating prepared using PSQ-2C and tetraethylene glycol (OEG; n = 4) at a feed functional group ratio of 10:1 demonstrated no peeling or dissolution even after water immersion for 1 h, and its surface hardness, which was evaluated via the pencil scratch test, was 4H. Additionally, when exposed to water vapor generated from warm water at 40 °C at a distance of 2 cm, the coating maintained transparency for up to 85 s, confirming its excellent antifogging performance. Finally, the coating exhibited self-healing properties, as evidenced by the disappearance of scratches induced by a 5H pencil when the coating was left standing at 25 °C and 30% relative humidity for 5 min. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer-Based Coatings: Principles, Development and Applications)
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16 pages, 1981 KB  
Article
Computational Design of Mineral-Based Materials: Iron Oxide Nanoparticle-Functionalized Polymeric Films for Enhanced Public Water Purification
by Iustina Popescu, Alina Ruxandra Caramitu, Adriana Mariana Borș, Mihaela-Amalia Diminescu and Liliana Irina Stoian
Polymers 2025, 17(15), 2106; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17152106 - 31 Jul 2025
Viewed by 617
Abstract
Heavy metal contamination in natural waters and soils poses a significant environmental challenge, necessitating efficient and sustainable water treatment solutions. This study presents the computational design of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) films functionalized with iron oxide (Fe3O4) nanoparticles (NPs) for [...] Read more.
Heavy metal contamination in natural waters and soils poses a significant environmental challenge, necessitating efficient and sustainable water treatment solutions. This study presents the computational design of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) films functionalized with iron oxide (Fe3O4) nanoparticles (NPs) for enhanced water purification applications. Composite materials containing 5%, 10%, and 15% were synthesized and characterized in terms of adsorption efficiency, surface morphology, and reusability. Advanced molecular modeling using BIOVIA Pipeline was employed to investigate charge distribution, functional group behaviour, and atomic-scale interactions between polymer chains and metal ions. The computational results revealed structure–property relationships crucial for optimizing adsorption performance and understanding geochemically driven interaction mechanisms. The LDPE/Fe3O4 composites demonstrated significant removal efficiency of Cu2+ and Ni2+ ions, along with favourable mechanical properties and regeneration potential. These findings highlight the synergistic role of mineral–polymer interfaces in water remediation, presenting a scalable approach to designing multifunctional polymeric materials for environmental applications. This study contributes to the growing field of polymer-based adsorbents, reinforcing their value in sustainable water treatment technologies and environmental protection efforts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer-Based Coatings: Principles, Development and Applications)
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21 pages, 1652 KB  
Article
Antimicrobial and Physicochemical Properties of Hemicellulose-Based Films Incorporating Carvacrol
by Syed Ammar Hussain, Brajendra K. Sharma, Phoebe X. Qi, Madhav P. Yadav and Tony Z. Jin
Polymers 2025, 17(15), 2073; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17152073 - 29 Jul 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 730
Abstract
Antimicrobial food packaging with natural antimicrobials and biodegradable polymers presents an innovative solution to mitigate microbial contamination, prolong freshness, reduce food waste, and alleviate environmental burden. This study developed antimicrobial hemicellulose-based films by incorporating carvacrol (1% and 2%) as a natural antimicrobial agent [...] Read more.
Antimicrobial food packaging with natural antimicrobials and biodegradable polymers presents an innovative solution to mitigate microbial contamination, prolong freshness, reduce food waste, and alleviate environmental burden. This study developed antimicrobial hemicellulose-based films by incorporating carvacrol (1% and 2%) as a natural antimicrobial agent through micro-emulsification produced by high-pressure homogenization (M-films). For comparison, films with the same formula were constructed using coarse emulsions (C-films) without high-pressure homogenization. These films were investigated for their antimicrobial efficacy, mechanical and barrier properties, and physicochemical attributes to explore their potential as sustainable antimicrobial packaging solutions. The M-films demonstrated superior antimicrobial activity, achieving reductions exceeding 4 Log CFU/mL against Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella enterica, compared to the C-films. High-pressure homogenization significantly reduced the emulsion’s particle size, from 11.59 to 2.55 μm, and considerably enhanced the M-film’s uniformity, hydrophobicity, and structural quality. Most importantly, the M-films exhibited lower oxygen transmission (35.14 cc/m2/day) and water vapor transmission rates (52.12 g/m2/day) than the C-films at 45.1 and 65.5 cc/m2/day, respectively, indicating superior protection against gas and moisture diffusion. Markedly improved mechanical properties, including foldability, toughness, and bubble-free surfaces, were also observed, making the M-films suitable for practical applications. This study highlights the potential of high-pressure homogenization as a method for enhancing the functional properties of hemicellulose-based films (i.e., M-films). The fabricated films offer a viable alternative to conventional plastic packaging, paving the way for safer and greener solutions tailored to modern industry needs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer-Based Coatings: Principles, Development and Applications)
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14 pages, 4016 KB  
Article
Green Fabrication of Phosphorus-Containing Chitosan Derivatives via One-Step Protonation for Multifunctional Flame-Retardant, Anti-Dripping, and Antibacterial Coatings on Polyester Fabrics
by Zhen-Guo Zhao, Yuan-Yuan Huang, Xin-Yu Tian and Yan-Peng Ni
Polymers 2025, 17(11), 1531; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17111531 - 30 May 2025
Viewed by 734
Abstract
With the increasing urgency of petroleum resource scarcity and environmental challenges, the development of degradable bio-based flame retardants has become crucial for enhancing the fire safety of organic materials. In this work, a phosphorus-containing chitosan derivative (CS-PPOA) was synthesized via a one-step protonation [...] Read more.
With the increasing urgency of petroleum resource scarcity and environmental challenges, the development of degradable bio-based flame retardants has become crucial for enhancing the fire safety of organic materials. In this work, a phosphorus-containing chitosan derivative (CS-PPOA) was synthesized via a one-step protonation reaction between chitosan (CS) and phenylphosphinic acid (PPOA) under mild conditions. The resulting multifunctional flame-retardant coating was applied to polyester (PET) fabrics. Comprehensive characterization using FT-IR, XPS, and NMR confirmed the successful protonation of chitosan amino groups through electrostatic interactions, forming a stable ionic complex. The CS-PPOA solution exhibited excellent rheological properties and film-forming ability, producing films with over 80% optical transmittance and flexibility. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) revealed that CS-PPOA achieved char residue yields of 76.8% and 40.2% under nitrogen and air atmospheres, respectively, significantly surpassing those of acetic acid-protonated chitosan (CS-HAc). The limiting oxygen index (LOI) of CS-PPOA increased to 48.3%, and vertical burning tests demonstrated rapid self-extinguishing behavior. When applied to PET fabrics at a 15% loading, the LOI value improved from 20.3% (untreated fabric) to 27.8%, forming a dense char layer during combustion while completely suppressing melt dripping. Additionally, the coated fabric exhibited broad-spectrum antibacterial activity, achieving a 99.99% inhibition rate against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. This study provides a novel strategy for the green and efficient preparation of multifunctional bio-based flame-retardant coatings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer-Based Coatings: Principles, Development and Applications)
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Review

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22 pages, 333 KB  
Review
Bio-Based Coatings on Cellulosic Materials Resistant to Humidity and Fats
by Bastián Rozas, Julio E. Bruna, Abel Guarda, María José Galotto, Cristopher Reyes, Ximena Valenzuela, Francisco Rodríguez-Mercado and Alejandra Torres
Polymers 2025, 17(20), 2755; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17202755 - 15 Oct 2025
Viewed by 599
Abstract
Cellulose stands out as a promising alternative to conventional polymers in food packaging due to its abundance, renewability, biodegradability and structural robustness. Despite these advantages, its natural low resistance to water and fats limits its direct application, necessitating the use of protective coatings [...] Read more.
Cellulose stands out as a promising alternative to conventional polymers in food packaging due to its abundance, renewability, biodegradability and structural robustness. Despite these advantages, its natural low resistance to water and fats limits its direct application, necessitating the use of protective coatings to enhance its functionality. In this context, the use of biopolymeric coatings such as poly(lactic acid) (PLA), starch, lignin, chitin and chitosan has emerged as a sustainable solution, providing effective barriers against moisture and oils. These coatings not only improve the functional performance of cellulosic substrates but also reduce reliance on fossil-based plastics, fostering compostable systems and supporting a circular economy. This review analyzes recent developments in biopolymer-coated cellulosic packaging materials, focusing on their resistance to water and fats. The aim is to assess their potential for sustainable food packaging applications. The findings highlight how these innovations contribute to global sustainability goals, such as reducing plastic waste, lowering carbon emissions, and decreasing dependence on non-renewable resources. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer-Based Coatings: Principles, Development and Applications)
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