Search Results (22)

Ships and offshore equipment operating in marine environments often face issues such as seawater corrosion and biofouling, leading to significant economic losses. To address the corrosion problems of ships and offshore equipment, heavy-duty anticorrosive coatings are widely used for corrosion protection in marine environments due to their long-term effectiveness, cost-efficiency, and excellent applicability. In this study, silane coupling agent (KH-560) was employed to modify sodium silicate, and the modified sodium silicate was then incorporated as a reinforcing phase into polyurethane to ultimately prepare a modified sodium silicate/polyurethane coating. The feasibility of the modified sodium silicate/polyurethane coating was investigated by characterizing its conventional physicochemical properties, weather resistance, acid and alkali resistance, and salt spray corrosion resistance. Experimental results indicate that the silane coupling agent acts as a bridge between the organic and inorganic interfaces through the hydrolysis and condensation reactions of its bifunctional groups, forming an interfacial layer connected by hydrogen bonds and covalent bonds, thereby improving the compatibility between the organic resin and inorganic sodium silicate. Comprehensive performance analysis revealed that when the content of modified sodium silicate was 60 wt%, the coating hardness reached 4H. Additionally, electrochemical tests demonstrated that the coating exhibited higher impedance (9.62 × 10⁴ Ω/cm²) and lower corrosion current density (5.82 × 10⁻⁷ A/cm²). This study provides a theoretical and experimental basis for the development of high-performance anticorrosive coatings for marine applications. Full article

The use of electrically driven drivetrains is increasing for passenger cars and light-, medium-, and heavy-duty trucks. Off-the-shelf automatic transmission fluids (ATFs) are still being used as electric drivetrain fluids (EDFs). EDFs are trending toward lower viscosity for better energy efficiency and better heat transfer capacity, while satisfying all the other challenging requirements, such as gear/bearing scuffing/wear protection, oxidative stability, copper corrosion, and coating/seal material compatibility. In this paper, we will highlight the importance of low foaming, low aeration, and low traction coefficient which are critical for the performance of the EDF during high-speed applications, measured using metrics such as energy efficiency, heat transfer capacity, and longer oil drain interval. Full article

Coatings are essential for protecting steel structures from corrosion and mechanical stresses, especially under challenging environmental conditions. To this end, this study systematically examines the effects of temperature (−20 °C to 50 °C), strain rate (6.67 × 10⁻⁴ s⁻¹ to 1.67 × 10⁻² s⁻¹), and intermediate coat thickness (140 μm to 700 μm, the layer between the primer and topcoat) on the uniaxial tensile properties of heavy-duty coatings for steel structures. Experimental and theoretical analyses were conducted to quantitatively assess the influence of these factors on the mechanical properties of the coatings. A multifactor constitutive model was developed based on the Sherwood–Frost model by integrating material characteristics and fitting experimental data, incorporating response functions for temperature, strain rate, and intermediate coat thickness. The results reveal that increased temperature causes temperature-induced softening, while higher strain rates lead to strain rate-dependent strengthening of the coatings. In contrast, the effect of layer thickness on mechanical properties follows a non-monotonic trend, influenced by the structural and material characteristics of the coatings, with the most significant mechanical response occurring at 560 μm thickness. These findings suggest that optimal coating design must consider multiple factors to enhance mechanical performance. Additionally, the correlation coefficients (r) between the model predictions and experimental results are 0.97 or higher, indicating the model’s effectiveness in predicting and optimizing the mechanical performance of heavy-duty coatings under complex conditions. Full article

To improve the storage stability and conductivity of aluminum powder in an aqueous environment, the surface of aluminum powder was treated to form silica film by the sol–gel method, then was treated with conductive modification to introduce nanocarbon black particles so that conductive aluminum powder could be prepared to solve the application bottleneck of aluminum powder in water-borne heavy-duty anticorrosive coatings. The structure, surface morphology, and composition of the modified aluminum powder were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD). The corrosion resistance and electrochemical properties were measured using a hydrogen evolution test and an 2electrochemical test. The results showed that there was a compact SiO₂ film formed on the surface of the prepared conductive aluminum powder, and the conductive filler nanocarbon black was uniformly grafted on the surface. According to the hydrogen evolution test at 100 h/50 °C, conductive aluminum powder with 5 wt% carbon black exhibited the best hydrogen evolution effect, with a hydrogen evolution amount of only 0.5 mL. The prepared conductive aluminum powder was applied to the water-borne coatings, and the storage stability test, electrochemical polarization test, and neutral salt spray test were further conducted. The water-borne coatings prepared with conductive aluminum powder still showed good performance and had no reaction after 6 months of storage. Compared with the coating containing SiO₂-modified aluminum powder, the coating exhibited better corrosion resistance. Full article

Diesel engines in heavy-duty vehicles are predicted to maintain a stable presence in the future due to the difficulty of electrifying heavy trucks, mine equipment, and railway cars. This trend encourages the effort to develop new aluminum alloy systems with improved performance at diesel engine conditions of elevated temperature and stress combinations to reduce vehicle weight and, consequently, CO₂ emissions. Aluminum alloys need to provide adequate creep resistance at ~300 °C and room-temperature tensile properties better than the current commercial aluminum alloys used for powertrain applications. The studies for improving creep resistance for aluminum casting alloys indicate that their high-temperature stability depends on the formation of high-density uniform dispersoids with low solid solubility and low diffusivity in aluminum. This review summarizes three generations of diesel engine aluminum alloys and focuses on recent work on the third-generation dispersoid-strengthened alloys. Additionally, new trends in developing creep resistance through the development of alloy systems other than Al-Si-based alloys, the optimization of manufacturing processes, and the use of thermal barrier coatings and composites are discussed. New progress on concepts regarding the thermal stability of rapidly solidified and nano-structured alloys and on creep-resistant alloy design via machine learning-based algorithms is also presented. Full article

In this study, an array of environmentally friendly and heavy-duty anticorrosion composite coatings were prepared. The synthesis involved amine-capped aniline trimer (ACAT) produced by an oxidative coupling reaction and graphene oxide (GO) prepared based on Hummer’s method, and later, the waterborne epoxy thermoset composite (WETC) coatings were prepared by thermal ring-opening polymerization of EP 147w, a commercial waterborne epoxy resin, in the presence of ACAT and/or GO with zinc dust (ZD). A synergistic effect was observed by replacing a significant amount of the ZD loading in the WETC by simultaneously incorporating a small amount of ACAT and GO. The electrochemical corrosion measurements of the as-prepared WETC coatings indicated that incorporating 5% w/w ACAT or 0.5% w/w GO separately replaced approximately 30% w/w or 15% w/w of the ZD, respectively. Moreover, the WETC coatings containing 5% w/w ACAT and 0.5% w/w GO simultaneously were found to replace 45% w/w of the ZD. A salt spray test based on ASTM B-117 also showed a consistent trend with the electrochemical results. Incorporating small amounts of ACAT and GO in WETC coatings instead of ZD not only maintains the anticorrosion performance but also enhances adhesion and abrasion resistance, as demonstrated by the adhesion and abrasion tests. Full article

Steel bridges are usually painted with anticorrosion coatings. Early detection of the deterioration of the top coat is important for preventive maintenance. To detect the exposed area of the middle coat due to the deterioration of the top coat, this study introduces near-infrared hyperspectral imaging. The exposed area of the middle coat can be detected by finding the wavelengths with large differences in the spectral characteristics of both coats. Moreover, principal component analysis was applied to hyperspectral data. Principal component analysis can accurately detect the exposed area of middle coats based on differences in spectral characteristics in the near-infrared region of the coating. Full article

Stab-resistant garments have been used for centuries, utilizing metals, paper, or polymeric structures, often inspired by natural structures such as scales. Nowadays, stab-resistant vests or vest inserts are used by police and security personnel, but also by bus drivers, ambulance officers, and other people who are empirically often attacked on duty. Since stab protection garments are often heavy and thus uncomfortable and not well accepted, whether in the form of chain-mail or metal inserts in protective vests, researchers are striving to find lightweight, drapable alternatives, often based on polymeric materials. These research attempts have recently focused on textile fabrics, mostly with impregnation by shear-thickening fluids (STFs) or ceramic coatings, as well as on lightweight composites. The first studies on 3D printed polymeric objects with tailored shapes, as well as theoretical investigations of the stab-protective effect of different materials, have been published throughout the last years. Here, we discuss different measurement methods, including dynamic and quasistatic methods, and correlations of stab-resistance with other physical properties, before we give an overview of recent developments of stab-resistant polymers, using different materials/material combinations and structures. Full article

When mesoporous nanomaterials and graphene oxide have been used in anti-corrosion coatings, new nanocoatings have attracted greater attention. Adding nano-fillers with special structures and corrosion inhibitors to epoxy coatings has been proven to effectively enhance the corrosion resistance of coatings. However, studies have pointed out that the added corrosion inhibitors are easily degraded by UV light and react with the metal substrate or materials in the coating, resulting in a significant reduction in the service life of the coating. To this end, in this study, the corrosion inhibitor was encapsulated in mesoporous silica with pH response, and the functional silica was composited with graphene oxide to prepare novel graphene oxide/functional mesoporous silica nanoparticles. Coatings with this special filler added have strong anti-corrosion potential and can be applied in marine anti-corrosion contexts, such as containers, in the future. The filler not only has a physical barrier ability but also can effectively prevent the degradation of the inhibitor due to ultraviolet rays. At the same time, in the early stage of corrosion, the release of inhibitors can be effectively controlled by the change in PH to achieve the purpose of preventing corrosion. UV spectrophotometry confirmed the stable encapsulation and controlled release of the inhibitor. Electrochemical-impedance spectroscopy showed that the |Z|_{0.01 Hz} value of the smart anti-corrosion epoxy coating was about 10,000 times higher than that of the pure epoxy coating. Through the FT-IR mapping test, it was found that in the area of mechanical damage, the alkaline environment created by the initial corrosion can induce the release of tannic acid and react with common corrosion products to form iron tannins, which effectively inhibits the further occurrence of corrosion. This method provides an effective method for the design of heavy-duty anti-corrosion coatings. Full article

After a fire on a steel bridge, a visual inspection is necessary to rapidly determine the need for an emergency response to ensure the structural safety of the bridge and decide whether to re-open the bridge to traffic. In this study, the visual inspection methods of assessing the coated surface were reviewed, as they are crucial for the rapid estimation of the steel temperature reached during the fire, which, in turn, is required for the safety assessment of steel bridges after a fire. An electric furnace heating test was conducted on the steel specimens coated with four types of heavy-duty paint systems for steel bridges, viz., urethane, siloxane, ceramic, and fluorocarbon. The heating temperatures and durations used in the test were 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 400, 500, and 600 °C at 30 and 60 min. Based on the heating temperature and duration, the paint-film surface conditions (discoloration, blistering, cracking, and delamination) were visually inspected for a qualitative analysis, and factors such as color difference, gloss retention, and pull-off adhesion were quantitatively analyzed. The visual inspection methods used to estimate the temperature of the paint film were reviewed. In addition, considering the reduction in the tension strength of the steel material and the coating durability performance according to the fire temperature, the determinants of the traffic stop–reopening timeline and the repair and reuse of the painting system based on the visual field inspection after a fire were suggested. Full article

The steel structures of coastal engineering in the moist tropics and subtropics are always under a C5/CX level corrosion environment with high temperature, high humidity, and high salt fog. Anticorrosive waterborne coatings with high weatherability and reliability are urgently to be developed. In this work, one kind of waterborne heavy-duty anticorrosive coatings, with the advantages of excellent corrosion resistance, self-repairing ability, self-cleaning ability, and high film compactness, was successfully achieved through modifying the side chains on the surface morphologies of the spherical nanoscale titania. The micromorphology and structure of the coating were characterized by a scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and atomic force microscope (AFM). The anticorrosion characteristics and forming mechanism of the modified nanoscale titania coating were analyzed. The salt spray tests showed that the neutral salt spray resistance time of the modified nanoscale titania coating was 1440 h. Its durability reached the H level and met the design requirements for 15 years of anticorrosion lifetime. The modified nanoscale titania coatings had been large-scale commercially applied at some typical steel structures under an extreme harsh corrosion environment in one coastal thermal power plant. The results showed that no rusting, peeling, or crack phenomena were observed after 3 years of service under different harsh coastal corrosion conditions. Full article

In this study, liquid polysulfide rubber was modified by silane coupling agent. New kinds of anti-corrosion coatings with salt spray resistance and strong adhesion to the steel substrate were obtained using the modified liquid polysulfide rubber, bimetallic filler, carbon nanotubes, and epoxy resin. Infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance confirmed the preparation of new modified liquid polysulfide rubber through coupling reaction between the epoxy group of silane compound and the sulfide group of the liquid polysulfide rubber. A 1440 h neutral salt spray test showed the coating to be completely free of rust and blisters. The corrosion diffusion width of the scribed area was only 1.7 mm. In addition, in a 3.5% by weight NaCl solution, the coating shows no blistering and no corrosion phenomena compared with zinc-rich epoxy paints (the added zinc content was only 28.6%). These tests confirmed that the new coating had a dense microstructure, strong adhesion to the steel substrate, good corrosion resistance, and anti-blister performance. The performance indicates that the coatings have potential for use in the atmosphere and underwater, which provides a better choice for long-term protection of marine projects such as ships, wharves, offshore platforms, and wind power structures. Full article

Diesel engines are important for heavy-duty vehicles. However, particulate matter (PM) released from diesel exhaust should be eliminated. Nowadays, catalytic diesel particulate filters (CDPF) are recognized as a promising technology. In this work, a series of monolith Mn_1−nK_nCo₂O₄ catalysts were prepared by the simple citric acid method. The as-prepared catalysts displayed good catalytic performance for soot combustion and the Mn_0.7K_0.3Co₂O₄ catalyst gave the best catalytic performance among all the prepared samples. The T₁₀ and T_m of Mn_0.7K_0.3Co₂O₄-HC catalyst for soot combustion are 310 and 439 °C, respectively. The physical and chemical properties of catalysts were characterized by means of SEM, XPS, H₂-TPR, Raman and other techniques. The characterization results indicate that K substitution is favorable for the formation of oxygen vacancies, enhancing the mobility of active oxygen species, and improving the redox properties and so on. In-situ Raman results prove that the strength of Co-O bonds in the catalysts became weak during the reaction at high temperatures. In addition, SEM and ultrasonic test results show that the peeling rate of the coat-layer is less than 5%. The as-prepared catalysts can be taken as one kind of candidate catalyst for promising application in soot combustion because of its facile synthesis, low cost and high catalytic activity. Full article

The development of high-temperature heavy-duty turbine disk materials is critical for improving the overall efficiency of combined cycle power plants. An alloy development strategy to this end involves superalloys strengthened by ‘compact’ γ′-γ″ coprecipitates. Compact morphology of coprecipitates consists of a cuboidal γ′ precipitate such that γ″ discs coat its six {001} faces. The present work is an attempt to investigate the microstructure and creep behavior of a fully aged alloy exhibiting compact coprecipitates. We conducted heat treatments, detailed microstructural characterization, and creep testing at 1200 °F (649 °C) on an IN718-variant alloy. Our results indicate that aged IN718-27 samples exhibit a relatively uniform distribution of compact coprecipitates, irrespective of the cooling rate. However, the alloy ruptured at low strains during creep tests at 1200 °F (649 °C). At 100 ksi (689 MPa) load, the alloy fails around 0.1% strain, and 75 ksi (517 MPa) loading causes rupture at 0.3% strain. We also report extensive intergranular failure in all the tested samples, which is attributed to cracking along grain boundary precipitates. The results suggest that while the compact coprecipitates are indeed thermally stable during thermomechanical processing, the microstructure of the alloy needs to be optimized for better creep strength and rupture life. Full article

Heavy-duty anticorrosion coatings are applied on the surface of steel bridges for protecting against corrosion. By aging deterioration, the coating is worn from the surface year by year. Appropriate re-painting construction programs should be adopted for the maintenance of the bridges according to the evaluation of wear extent. Experimental studies were conducted with the aim of quantitative estimation of the degree of abrasion of the top coat thickness. It was found that there was a correlation between the top coat thickness and the observed infrared intensity and that this calibration relationship could be used to estimate the top coat thickness. Full article