Surface Science: Polymer Thin Films, Coatings and Adhesives (2nd Edition)

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Guest Editor
Laboratoire de Photochimie et d’Ingénierie Macromoléculaires, Université de Haute Alsace, 3b Rue Alfred Werner, 68093 Mulhouse, France
Interests: polymer surfaces and interfaces; adhesion science; advanced surface spectroscopies; composite materials; biopolymers
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

As Guest Editor, I am delighted to invite researchers from all over the world to contribute to the second edition of this Special Issue of Surfaces, entitled ‘Surface Science: Polymer Thin Films, Coatings and Adhesives (2nd Edition)’. Following on from the success of the first edition, this new edition seeks to capture the latest breakthroughs in synthesis, characterisation and applications of advanced polymer thin films, coatings and adhesives, particularly targeting biomedical and sustainable development applications.

Submissions which focus on a broad spectrum of topics, including, but not limited to, the following, are welcome:

  • Synthesis of functional polymer coatings and thin films for biomedical applications;
  • Green-based adhesives and coatings;
  • Smart adhesives for biomedical applications;
  • New developments in thin films and coating characterisation;
  • Improvement of durability of adhesives, coatings or thin films;
  • Sustainability and recyclability of composites materials;
  • Coatings and adhesive repair, recycling and debonding on demand;
  • Environmental and ecological aspects of adhesives and coatings.

Authors are encouraged to explore how recent advances in polymer surface science address key challenges to enhance the efficiency, durability, and environmental compatibility of new functional thin films, coatings and adhesives.

The aim of this Special Issue of Surfaces, entitled ‘Surface Science: Polymer Thin Films, Coatings and Adhesives (2nd Edition)’, is to inspire and stimulate original breakthroughs related to the modification, control, tuning, and characterisation of polymer surfaces and their properties at interfaces, by hosting original research articles and short critical reviews, particularly targeting biomedical and sustainable development applications.

We look forward to receiving your valued contributions!

Prof. Dr. Maurice Brogly
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 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. Surfaces is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly 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 1600 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

  • polymers and biopolymers surfaces
  • polymers and biopolymers at interfaces
  • surface treatments and modifications
  • adhesion and adhesives
  • coatings and thin films
  • composites
  • polymer blends
  • friction and wear
  • lubrication
  • surface and interface analysis
  • surface spectroscopies and microscopies

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 2621 KB  
Article
Balancing Hydrophobicity and Water-Vapor Transmission in Sol–Silicate Coatings Modified with Colloidal SiO2 and Silane Additives
by Dana Němcová, Klára Kobetičová, Petra Tichá, Ivana Burianová, Dana Koňáková, Pavel Kejzlar and Martin Böhm
Surfaces 2025, 8(4), 88; https://doi.org/10.3390/surfaces8040088 - 29 Nov 2025
Viewed by 377
Abstract
This study investigates the optimization of sol–silicate façade coatings modified with colloidal silica and a silane-based hydrophobizing additive to enhance hydrophobicity while maintaining a high water-vapor transmission rate (V). The effects of the binder ratio between potassium water glass (WG) and colloidal silica [...] Read more.
This study investigates the optimization of sol–silicate façade coatings modified with colloidal silica and a silane-based hydrophobizing additive to enhance hydrophobicity while maintaining a high water-vapor transmission rate (V). The effects of the binder ratio between potassium water glass (WG) and colloidal silica (CS), the type of colloidal silica (unmodified or epoxy-silanized), and the concentration of the hydrophobizing additive (HA) were systematically evaluated. Water-vapor transmission was determined according to EN ISO 7783, and surface wettability was measured before and after accelerated UV-A aging. Dynamic viscosity was monitored for two years to assess long-term storage stability. The optimized formulation contained 7 wt % potassium water glass, 15 wt % colloidal silica, and 1 wt % hydrophobizing additive. It exhibited stable viscosity over time (≈19,000 mPa·s after six months), high water-vapor transmission (V > 6700 g·m−2·d−1, class V1), and an initial contact angle of 118°, which decreased only moderately after UV-A exposure. Coatings containing epoxy-silanized colloidal silica showed slightly lower transmission but still remained within the high V range suitable for vapor-open façade systems. The results confirm that balanced sol–silicate systems can combine durable hydrophobicity with long-term rheological and functional stability. Full article
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11 pages, 2505 KB  
Article
Nylon Powder Composites with High Leveling Property and Toughness Prepared via Filler-Modified Method
by Si-Ao Xin, Yanxiang Wang, Shanshan Xu, Yanying Zhu, Ziyi Xu, Yanru Yuan, Dong Zhang, Yingfan Li and Shaoao Hu
Surfaces 2025, 8(4), 80; https://doi.org/10.3390/surfaces8040080 - 13 Nov 2025
Viewed by 308
Abstract
Powder coating, as a promising coating material, has attracted widespread attention due to its convenient construction and being a green option, promoting environmental protection. However, the existence of defects such as insufficient leveling and poor mechanical properties of the coating during the coating [...] Read more.
Powder coating, as a promising coating material, has attracted widespread attention due to its convenient construction and being a green option, promoting environmental protection. However, the existence of defects such as insufficient leveling and poor mechanical properties of the coating during the coating process limits the further expansion of its application fields. Therefore, for this article, powder coatings with high leveling performance were prepared by composite modification of nylon 12 (PA-12) resin with polyacrylates and ethylene-α-olefin copolymers (POE). The introduction of modified polyacrylates reduces the surface tension of nylon chains, enhancing melt flowability during curing and making the coating surface smooth. Furthermore, by introducing POE, the flexibility of the powder coating was improved, and its fracture elongation increased from 59% for pure PA-12 to a maximum of 234%. This study provides an effective method for the modification of nylon powder coatings and offers new insights into their use in high-performance coating applications. Full article
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