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Polymers
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Recent Advances in Polymer Coatings
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Recent Advances in Polymer Coatings

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 February 2026) | Viewed by 10470

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Ying Yan

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China
Interests: surface metrology; polymer thin-film fabrication (spin-coating/spray-coating/blade-coating); polymer ultra-precision cutting; electrochemical machining
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Yiqi Wang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China
Interests: composite materials; optimization
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are excited to present this Special Issue, which delves into the recent strides made in the field of polymeric coatings. What once primarily served as a protective layer for substrates has evolved significantly, now boasting capabilities that include hardness, self-cleaning mechanisms, tailored adhesion, and even biological responsiveness. This shift has opened up new possibilities for applications in diverse sectors, such as the biomedical and industrial fields, where functional and smart coatings are gaining prominence. 

Our focus extends to the forefront of polymer science, encapsulating the state-of-the-art in surface modification, structuration, and the development of advanced coatings on non-polymeric materials. Of particular interest are functional and smart surfaces, incorporating biomimetic designs and sensor applications. The biomedical and industrial sectors, in particular, stand to benefit significantly from these innovative developments. 

Within the scope of this Special Issue, we aim to explore the intricate relationship between surface modification techniques and the resulting high-performance properties. Authors are encouraged to contribute research that not only showcases the latest advancements but also provides a deeper understanding of the mechanisms governing these cutting-edge polymeric coatings.

Dr. Ying Yan
Dr. Yiqi Wang
Guest Editors

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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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

  • spin coating
  • slot die coating
  • polymer coatings
  • smart polymer coatings
  • nanocomposite coatings
  • characterization
  • advanced imaging
  • spectroscopy
  • surface analysis
  • dynamic field

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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29 pages, 4396 KB  
Article
Synergistic Role of Crosslinker and Silane-Based Additive in Designing Structurally Robust Bio-Based Polyurethane Coatings
by Mayankkumar L. Chaudhary, Kinal Chaudhari, Rutu Patel and Ram K. Gupta
Polymers 2026, 18(12), 1490; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18121490 (registering DOI) - 13 Jun 2026
Abstract
Bio-based polyurethane (PU) coatings offer sustainable alternatives to petrochemical coatings but often suffer from inferior mechanical performance, durability, and chemical resistance. This work addresses that challenge by integrating a trifunctional bio-based crosslinker (glycerol) and a silane-based additive (hexamethyldisilane (HMDS)) to simultaneously enhance structural [...] Read more.
Bio-based polyurethane (PU) coatings offer sustainable alternatives to petrochemical coatings but often suffer from inferior mechanical performance, durability, and chemical resistance. This work addresses that challenge by integrating a trifunctional bio-based crosslinker (glycerol) and a silane-based additive (hexamethyldisilane (HMDS)) to simultaneously enhance structural robustness and hydrophobicity. Coatings were synthesized using a renewable soybean oil polyol (SOP), glycerol (5, 10, 15 and 20 wt.%), and methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI), followed by the addition of HMDS (10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 wt.%). Mechanical tests identified 10 wt.% glycerol as the optimal content, yielding a maximum tensile strength of 47.18 MPa. Incorporating 10 wt.% HMDS into the optimized formulation greatly increased water contact angle (WCA, 95.76°) and chemical resistance with minimal loss of mechanical performance (38.19 MPa, tensile strength); higher HMDS loadings caused network disruption and reduced strength. Calorimetry and thermogravimetric analyses confirmed that the modified coatings retained high thermal stability. This synergistic crosslinker additive strategy produced a structurally robust, water-resistant bio-based coating, demonstrating a viable high-performance sustainable coating solution for industrial applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Polymer Coatings)
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16 pages, 3292 KB  
Article
Contact-Angle-Guided Semi-Cured Slot-Die Coating Eliminates Air Entrapment in LED Multilayer Films
by Zikeng Fang, Jiaqi Wan, Chenghang Li, Henan Li and Ying Yan
Polymers 2025, 17(11), 1436; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17111436 - 22 May 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1668
Abstract
LED polymer multilayer films offer clear advantages over single-layer coatings, such as minimized particle settling, finer control over particle distribution, and more precise spectral tuning. However, the standard “coat–dry–coat” process for these multilayer systems often traps air bubbles, degrading film quality and uniformity. [...] Read more.
LED polymer multilayer films offer clear advantages over single-layer coatings, such as minimized particle settling, finer control over particle distribution, and more precise spectral tuning. However, the standard “coat–dry–coat” process for these multilayer systems often traps air bubbles, degrading film quality and uniformity. This study investigates the air entrainment mechanism in multilayer film formation. Bubbles form when the cured bottom layer exhibits a low contact angle, which destabilizes the advancing liquid front. High-speed microscopy captured these interfacial dynamics, and contact-angle measurements quantified the wetting behavior. Numerical simulations further demonstrated that reduced wettability and vortex formation drive air entrainment. To mitigate air entrainment, a semi-cured slot die coating approach was proposed to modify the surface wettability and suppress the flow instabilities. Incorporating temperature-dependent viscosity into the simulation model improved its predictive accuracy, cutting the error in predicted coating-gap limits from 11.49% to 4.99%. This combined strategy delivers reliable, bubble-free multilayer films and paves the way for more consistent, high-quality LED polymer applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Polymer Coatings)
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Review

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20 pages, 4883 KB  
Review
Progress in Materials for Metallic Cultural Heritage Conservation: Mechanisms, Applications, and Future Perspectives
by Yutong Liu, Xiang Liu, Shanxiang Xu and Xinyou Liu
Polymers 2026, 18(9), 1131; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18091131 - 4 May 2026
Viewed by 770
Abstract
Metallic cultural heritage artifacts are highly susceptible to multi-factor electrochemical degradation, driven by chloride ions, humidity, acidic deposition, and heterogeneous material interfaces. Traditional conservation materials, including organic and inorganic coatings and corrosion inhibitors, often exhibit limited interfacial compatibility, poor long-term stability, and insufficient [...] Read more.
Metallic cultural heritage artifacts are highly susceptible to multi-factor electrochemical degradation, driven by chloride ions, humidity, acidic deposition, and heterogeneous material interfaces. Traditional conservation materials, including organic and inorganic coatings and corrosion inhibitors, often exhibit limited interfacial compatibility, poor long-term stability, and insufficient multifunctionality. Recent advances in protective materials—including nano-enhanced coatings, self-healing systems, smart-responsive polymers, green biodegradable formulations, and metal–organic framework (MOF)-based composites—offer multifunctional, long-lasting, and minimally invasive solutions. These materials enhance corrosion inhibition, barrier performance, structural reinforcement, and environmental responsiveness, while enabling in situ sensing, reversible application, and ethical deployment. Laboratory evaluation, accelerated aging tests, and field verification demonstrate their efficacy in preserving artifact integrity and aesthetics. This review systematically discusses degradation mechanisms, limitations of traditional materials, and the mechanisms, applications, and future perspectives of novel functional coatings, providing a roadmap for scientifically optimized and ethically responsible conservation of metallic heritage. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Polymer Coatings)
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42 pages, 8149 KB  
Review
Bio-Based Coatings: Progress, Challenges and Future Perspectives
by Lijian Xia, Taijiang Gui, Junjun Wang, Haoyuan Tian, Yue Wang, Liang Ning and Lianfeng Wu
Polymers 2025, 17(24), 3266; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17243266 - 9 Dec 2025
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 6915
Abstract
In response to environmental concerns and the depletion of fossil resources, transitioning coatings toward sustainability is imperative. Bio-based coatings, derived from renewable biomass, represent a highly promising development pathway. This review comprehensively summarizes recent advances, prevailing challenges, and future prospects of bio-based coatings, [...] Read more.
In response to environmental concerns and the depletion of fossil resources, transitioning coatings toward sustainability is imperative. Bio-based coatings, derived from renewable biomass, represent a highly promising development pathway. This review comprehensively summarizes recent advances, prevailing challenges, and future prospects of bio-based coatings, with a focus on bio-based polymer resins—serving as the primary film-forming materials—and key auxiliary components such as pigments and fillers, additives, and solvents. This review systematically elaborates on the definition of bio-based coatings, their raw material sources, and international standards for bio-based carbon content determination. The core strategies for converting biomass into coating components are critically analyzed, namely direct utilization, physical blending, chemical modification, and biosynthesis. Furthermore, the synthesis, properties, and applications of key bio-based polymer systems—including epoxy, polyurethane, alkyd, and acrylic resins—are critically discussed, with particular emphasis on how molecular engineering enhances their performance and functionality. Despite significant progress, bio-based coatings still face several challenges, such as balancing performance and cost, ensuring the stability of raw material supply chains, and establishing globally unified standards. This review concludes that the integration of chemical modification and biosynthesis technologies, coupled with the establishment of a unified bio-based content standard system, constitutes two core drivers for advancing bio-based coatings from “green alternatives” toward “high-performance dominance” in the future. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Polymer Coatings)
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