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During a ship's voyage, it is difficult to maintain its hull, and prolonged exposure to seawater can lead to the attachment of marine organisms, which can negatively impact the ship's speed. The original self-polishing copolymer was a tributyltin-containing paint used for applying two layers of protective coating onto a ship's bottom plate. According to International Maritime Organization (abbreviated as IMO) regulations, users are no longer allowed to use paints containing tributyltin. Therefore, manufacturers have developed a tributyltin-free paint, known as tin-free nanotechnology paint, which can be used as a replacement for the base coat on ship bottom plates. This study involves the use of a self-polishing copolymer spray and tin-free nanotechnology paint. A model coated with these two types of paint will be observed underwater to study the growth of marine organisms. Additionally, fuel consumption will be analyzed through underwater inspections and sea trials. Based on the experimental data, it is known that tin-free nanotechnology paint can significantly reduce the need for repairs in factories and greatly decrease maintenance costs when compared to self-polishing copolymers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Passive radiative cooling materials are widely recognized as attractive innovations for reducing emissions and expanding life-saving cooling access. Despite immense research attention, the adoption of such technologies is limited largely due to a lack of scalability and cost compatibility with market needs. While paint and coating-based approaches offer a more sensible solution, many demonstrations suffer from issues such as a low solar reflectance performance or a lack of material sustainability due to the use of harmful solvents. In this work, we demonstrate a passive radiative cooling paint which achieves an extremely high solar reflectance value of 98% using a completely water-based formulation. Material sustainability is promoted by incorporating size-dispersed calcium phosphate biomaterials, which offer broadband solar reflectance, as well as a self-crosslinking water-based binder, providing water resistance and durability without introducing harmful materials. Common industry pigments are integrated within the binder for comparison, illustrating the benefit of finely-tuned particle size distributions for broadband solar reflectance, even in low-refractive-index materials such as calcium phosphates. With scalability, outdoor durability, and eco-friendly materials, this demonstrated paint offers a practical passive radiative cooling approach without exacerbating other environmental issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The term electromagnetic pulse (EMP) generally refers to high-power electromagnetic waves and can be classified into EMPs caused by nuclear weapons, non-nuclear EMPs, and EMPs caused by natural phenomena. EMPs can cause catastrophic damage to any electronic device consisting of electromagnetic components, including communications devices and transportation. In this study, the shielding effectiveness of paint was evaluated depending on the type and content of carbon material and binder. To analyze the compatibility and dispersibility improvement of the raw materials used in paint manufacturing, experiments were conducted in two stages, using 27 mixtures. The shielding effectiveness was evaluated for the optimal mixture developed through mixture experiments. The results of this study confirmed that the developed EMP shielding paint can improve the shielding effectiveness of concrete by 25–40 dB. Additionally, the adhesion strength and moisture resistance evaluation of the EMP shielding paint were evaluated. The average adhesive strength of the EMP shielding paint was 1.26 MPa. In moisture-resistance testing at a temperature of 50 ± 3 °C and a relative humidity of 95% or higher for more than 120 h, no cracks or peeling were observed on the painted surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the oil on canvas painting Boat scene (1974) by Liu Kang (1911–2004), belonging to the National Gallery Singapore (NGS). The focus is on disfiguring paint protrusions in a specific area and colour in the composition. Moreover, in search of the possible factors responsible for the creation of the protrusions, the structure and composition of the paint layers were determined. Three possible reasons were put forward to explain this phenomenon: deliberate textural effects, the expansion of metal soaps and unintentional paint contamination during the artistic process. Investigative techniques such as technical photography, digital microscopy, optical microscopy (OM), polarised light microscopy (PLM), field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM-EDS) and attenuated total reflectance micro-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR μ-FTIR) were employed to analyse paint layers, including protrusion samples. The analyses revealed that the protrusions resulted from an unintentional contamination of the oil paint during the artistic process by dry fragments of different pigment mixtures bound in drying oil. Zinc soaps were found in significant concentrations within the protrusions and other parts of the painted scene. Nevertheless, the metal soaps do not pose a direct risk to the integrity of the paint layers at the time of this research. The analyses highlight the potential challenges caused by the protrusions that conservators may face while caring for the painting. The research contributes to our ongoing comprehension of the artist's working process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Raman spectroscopy (RS), for its robust analytical capabilities under constant development, is a powerful method for the identification of various materials, in particular pigments in cultural heritage. Characterization of the artist's palette is of fundamental importance for the correct formulation of restoration intervention as well as for preventive conservation of artworks. Here we examine the number and variability of research studies exploiting Bravo handheld Raman spectrophotometer relying on the excitation of Raman signal with temperature-shifted diode lasers emitting at 852 and 785 nm. To this end, we explore the spectral features of common historical pigments examined as powders and in the paint layer. We show that some materials may exhibit slightly different spectra as concerns especially the relative intensity of Raman lines with 852 nm laser excitation wavelength as compared to the standard 785 nm. The aim is to provide the research community with a reference spectral database that facilitates the identification of unknown pigments using the 852 nm excitation source. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The anti-fungal properties of the probiotic bacterium Bacillus subtilis have been studied extensively in agriculture and ecology, but their applications in the built environment remain to be determined. Our work aims to utilize this biological component to introduce new diverse anti-mold properties into paint. "Mold" refers to the ubiquitous fungal species that generate visible multicellular filaments commonly found in household dust. The development of mold leads to severe health problems for occupants, including allergic response, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, and asthma, which have significant economic and clinical outcomes. We here demonstrate the robust effect of a commercial paint enhanced with Bacillus subtilis cells against the common mold agent, Aspergillus niger, and identify three biosynthetic clusters essential for this effect. Our results lay the foundation for bio-convergence and synthetic biology approaches to introduce renewable and environmentally friendly bio-anti-fungal agents into the built environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The antibacterial microcapsules were prepared by encapsulating Toddalia asiatica (L.) Lam. extracts with urea–formaldehyde resin. The orthogonal test was designed to investigate the effects of the mass ratio of core and wall materials (Wcore:Wwall), emulsifier concentration, reaction temperature and reaction time on the yield rate and coverage rate of microcapsules, and to obtain the best preparation technology for microcapsules. The single-factor results indicated that the maximum influence factor was the Wcore:Wwall of the microcapsules; the larger the Wcore:Wwall, the easier the microcapsules were to agglomerate; and when the Wcore:Wwall was 0.8:1, the coverage rate reached the maximum value of 11.0%. The waterborne topcoat paint film was prepared by adding the microcapsules in the same content. The yield rate, coverage rate, and microscopic morphology of Toddalia asiatica (L.) Lam. extract microcapsules were analyzed, as well as the effects of microcapsules on the microscopic morphology, optical properties, cold liquid resistance, mechanical properties and antibacterial properties of a waterborne topcoat paint film. Combining the optical properties, cold liquid resistance, physical properties, and antibacterial properties of the waterborne topcoat paint film, the comprehensive performance of the waterborne topcoat paint film with the Wcore:Wwall of 0.8:1 was superior. The gloss was 8.07 GU, color difference ΔE was 9.21, visible light transmittance was 82.90%, resistance to citric acid, ethanol and detergent were grade 1, 2 and 2, respectively, elongation at break was 15.68%, and roughness was 3.407 µm. The antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were 42.82% and 46.05%, respectively. In this study, a waterborne topcoat paint film with a microcapsule-coated plant-derived antibacterial agent as the core was prepared, expanding the application prospect of plant-derived antibacterial microcapsules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a pulsed laser operating at a wavelength of 1064 nm and with a pulse width of 100 ns was utilized for the removal of paint from the surface of a 2024 aluminum alloy. The experimental investigation was conducted to analyze the influence of laser parameters on the efficacy of paint layer removal from the aircraft skin's surface and the subsequent evolution in the microstructure of the laser-treated aluminum alloy substrate. The mechanism underlying laser cleaning was explored through simulation. The findings revealed that power density and scanning speed significantly affected the quality of cleaning. Notably, there were discernible damage thresholds and optimal cleaning parameters in repetitive frequency, with a power density of 178.25 MW/cm2, scanning speed of 500 mm/s, and repetitive frequency of 40 kHz identified as the primary optimal settings for achieving the desired cleaning effect. Thermal ablation and thermal vibration were identified as the principal mechanisms of cleaning. Moreover, laser processing induced surface dislocations and concentrated stress, accompanied by grain refinement, on the aluminum substrate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Featured Application: White water-based paints with high-volume solids and well-graded glass beads, characterized by uniformity and curvature coefficients, improve pavement marking service life. Pavement marking retroreflectivity, a critical factor for safe driving, depends on the characteristics of both the paint and the embedded glass beads. However, traditional methods for predicting pavement marking service life often overlook these materials properties. This study investigates the influence of paint and glass bead characteristics on pavement marking retroreflectivity performance and addresses the characterization of glass bead size distribution by the coefficient of uniformity and curvature. Three field test sites on a Brazilian highway with various paint and glass bead combinations were evaluated. A statistical model, GAMLSS (Generalized Additive Model for Location, Scale, and Shape), was adjusted to evaluate the performance of the markings' retroreflectivity as a function of paint and glass bead characteristics. The model revealed that well-graded glass beads increased retroreflectivity by around 10%, while paints with a higher volume of solids improved service life around 65%. Therefore, the results show that acrylic water-based paints with higher volumes of solids and well-graded glass beads with better shape characteristics should be preferred to improve pavement markings' retroreflectivity and service life. The statistical model identified the key characteristics with the greatest impact on pavement marking retroreflectivity, offering valuable insights for real-world applications, which will assist pavement marking practitioners and road authorities in selecting appropriate materials to achieve enhanced durability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the work was to investigate the influence of the surface texture of composite based on PA6, intended for wet painting, on the stability of the colour and gloss parameters. The stability of the paint coating was required to be maintained despite exposure to mechanical stress resulting from attempts to manually remove graffiti stains. The study examined the influence of surface texture on the effectiveness of cleaning. In the case of painted surfaces from which graffiti stains were effectively removed, the roughness, colour parameters and gloss of the paint coating were measured. During the research, it was found that roughness after painting decreased to the value of Ra < 2.00 µm meets aesthetic expectations and at the same time ensures the effective removal of graffiti stains. For this surface, there were no negative effects of the mechanical impact on the textures or quality parameters of the coating as a result of manual graffiti removal. As a result of the conducted research, the recommended maximum values of roughness and textures of the surfaces to be painted were determined in order to ensure a sufficiently low amount of work necessary to effectively remove traces of graffiti. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Engineered living materials (ELMs) incorporate living material to provide a gain of function over existing materials, such as self-repair. The use of bacteria in ELMs has been studied extensively in concrete, where repair can be facilitated by bacterial ureolytic calcium carbonate (CaCO3) precipitation; however, the study of bacteria in other construction materials is limited. We examined the ability of bacterial species to survive in common latex binder chemistries, a model paint formulation, and through the film-forming process. The longest survival was by bacterial spores of Bacillus simplex str. GGC-P6A, which survive in latex emulsions, a liquid coating composition, and in a dried film for >28 days. Surprisingly, our data show that non-spore-forming Escherichia coli survive at least 15 days in liquid composition, which appear to be influenced by the composition of the outer membrane, nutrient scavenging, and the ability to metabolize toxic acrylate. Spores of GGC-P6A were shown to grow in solid paint films from sites of damage, resulting in crack filling through carbonate precipitation, demonstrating the potential for self-repair through microbially mediated CaCO3 precipitation without directed pH modification. These data suggest that a range of bacterial species, in particular members of Bacilli, may facilitate new applications of bio-augmented, self-healing coating systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes the performance of various types of paints available in the Brazilian market, including PVA, matte acrylic, silicate, and lime paints within the context of their applicability to the conservation of historic building facades. Considering distinct suppliers and application methods, this study highlights the importance of tailoring paint selection to the preservation requirements of historic edifices, taking into account local preservation norms and the material characteristics of the buildings' original construction. The paints were evaluated based on water vapor permeability, washability, and adhesion. Furthermore, the paints' color variation with exposure to accelerated artificial aging was assessed. For testing purposes, specimens produced from cellular concrete slabs were used as substrates, which were coated with the paints under study. Based on the results, it was observed that, regarding the diffusion of water vapor, the silicate and lime paints presented the highest permeability values, and the acrylic and PVA paints had the lowest. Concerning washability, the silicate and lime paints showed the greatest wear. The adhesion tests revealed that, except for lime paint, detachment often occurred at the substrate. As for the accelerated aging test, lime paint exhibited the most significant color variation, losing its pigmentation considerably over time. With the results of this research and considering the main preservation requirements of historic coatings, silicate-based paints may be considered the most suitable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fluorocarbon polyurethane amino baking paint for graffiti-resistant whiteboards was designed and prepared. Firstly, perfluorohexylethyl alcohol (TEOH6) and hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) were reacted under certain conditions to obtain fluorocarbon mono-isocyanate, then fluorocarbon diols were obtained by reacting with trimethylolpropane, and finally fluorocarbon polyurethane hydroxy resin was formed by reacting with hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) and polyester diols. The synthesized hydroxyl resin was used as the basis to configure fluorocarbon polyurethane amino baking paint for graffiti-resistant whiteboards and was upgraded by adding hydroxyl silicone oil. Secondly, a series of performance tests, such as hardness, adhesion, flexibility, and corrosion resistance, were conducted to verify that the baking paint possessed excellent properties for use on writing whiteboards. The graffiti resistance of each paint film was evaluated by different methods, and it was found that the graffiti resistance was mainly due to the excellent hydrophobicity and oleophobicity of the paint films after the enrichment of fluorocarbon chains on their surfaces, and the combined effect of low surface energy caused by hydroxyl silicone oil crosslinked with amino resin. This study provides a theoretical basis and technical support for the preparation of fluorocarbon polyurethane baking paint for graffiti-resistant whiteboards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Affected by the improper operation of the workers, environmental changes during drying and curing or the quality of the paint itself, diverse defects are produced during the process of ship painting. The traditional defect recognition method relies on expert knowledge or experience to detect defects, which is not conducive to ensuring the effectiveness of defect recognition. Therefore, this paper proposes an image generation and recognition model which is suitable for small samples. Based on a deep convolutional neural network (DCNN), the model combines a conditional variational autoencoder (DCCVAE) and auxiliary conditional Wasserstein GAN with gradient penalty (ACWGAN-GP) to gradually expand and generate various coating defect images for solving the overfitting problem due to unbalanced data. The DCNN model is trained based on newly generated image data and original image data so as to build a coating defect image classification model suitable for small samples, which is conducive to improving classification performance. The experimental results showed that our proposed model can achieve up to 92.54% accuracy, an F-score of 88.33%, and a G mean value of 91.93%. Compared with traditional data enhancement methods and classification algorithms, our proposed model can identify various defects in the ship painting process more accurately and consistently, which can provide effective theoretical and technical support for ship painting defect detection and has significant engineering research value and application prospects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As one of the precious cultural heritages, Chinese landscape painting has developed unique styles and techniques. Researching the intelligent generation of Chinese landscape paintings from photos can benefit the inheritance of traditional Chinese culture. To address detail loss, blurred outlines, and poor style transfer in present generated results, a model for generating Chinese landscape paintings from photos named Paint-CUT is proposed. In order to solve the problem of detail loss, the SA-ResBlock module is proposed by combining shuffle attention with the resblocks in the generator, which is used to enhance the generator's ability to extract the main scene information and texture features. In order to solve the problem of poor style transfer, perceptual loss is introduced to constrain the model in terms of content and style. The pre-trained VGG is used to extract the content and style features to calculate the perceptual loss and, then, the loss can guide the model to generate landscape paintings with similar content to landscape photos and a similar style to target landscape paintings. In order to solve the problem of blurred outlines in generated landscape paintings, edge loss is proposed to the model. The Canny edge detection is used to generate edge maps and, then, the edge loss between edge maps of landscape photos and generated landscape paintings is calculated. The generated landscape paintings have clear outlines and details by adding edge loss. Comparison experiments and ablation experiments are performed on the proposed model. Experiments show that the proposed model can generate Chinese landscape paintings with clear outlines, rich details, and realistic style. Generated paintings not only retain the details of landscape photos, such as texture and outlines of mountains, but also have similar styles to the target paintings, such as colors and brush strokes. So, the generation quality of Chinese landscape paintings has improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Huntite, a naturally occurring carbonate mineral, originates through the alteration processes of dolomite and magnesite. While its structural characteristics align with typical carbonate minerals, its distinction arises from its polyhedral conjunctiveness. The versatile utility of huntite spans several industries, including paint, flame retardant, plastic, polymer, and pharmaceutical sectors. Noteworthy among its diverse applications is its utilization as a flame-retardant additive in raw materials. In this investigation, three samples received from the Denizli region of Turkey were subjected to detailed analysis followed by an enrichment process involving mechanical attrition and sieving of 38 microns where undersize products were obtained, exhibiting 86.9% huntite for the H-1 sample and 91.9% huntite for the H-2–3 sample. The huntite concentrates were then incorporated into paint formulations with the objective of enhancing flame retardancy. A series of testing protocols were implemented to assess the quality of the resulting paints, ultimately yielding a fire-resistant paint formulation through utilizing the H-1 sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study presents the first results of the passive capture of carbon dioxide from the air in aqueous sodium lysinate solutions at ambient conditions. The salt has shown good passive direct air capture (DAC) properties for carbon dioxide with spent solutions exhibiting more than 5% carbon dioxide by weight. Moreover, different quantities of sodium lysinate solutions were mixed with three commercial water-based paints, and their passive DAC performance was studied for 45 days. An average improvement of 70% in passive DAC capacity compared to the control sample was observed across all the studied paint samples. The results establish that a litre of water-based paint doped with sodium lysinate can absorb up to 40 g of CO2 and fix it stably for a short period of time, i.e., 45 days. Such paints can be used to directly capture carbon dioxide from the air. However, further research is required to address various technicalities and establish long-term sequestration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using teach pendants or offline programming methods can generate tool paths for robot manipulators to carry out production activities, such as spray painting on objects of different geometries. This task, in which the complexity of painting the surface is one of the main challenges, requires highly skilled operators. In addition, the time spent setting up a robot task can be justified for the mass production of the same workpiece. However, it is inconvenient for low-production and high-variation production lines. In order to overcome these challenges, this study presents an algorithm to autonomously generate robot trajectories for a spray-painting process applied to objects with complex surfaces based on input 3D point cloud data. A predefined spherical mesh wraps the object, organizing the geometrical attributes into a structured data set. Subsequently, the region of interest is extracted and isolated from the model, which serves as the basis for the automatic path-planning operation. A user-friendly graphical user interface (GUI) is developed to define input parameters, visualize the point cloud model and the generated trajectory, simulate paint quality using a color map, and ultimately generate the robot's code. A 3D sensor is used to localize the pose of the workpiece ahead of the robot and adjust the robot's trajectory. The efficacy of the proposed approach is validated first by using various workpieces within a simulated environment and second by employing a real robot to execute the motion task. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid advancement of Wise Information Technology of med (WITMED) has made the integration of traditional Chinese medicine tongue diagnosis and computer technology an increasingly significant area of research. The doctor obtains patient's tongue images to make a further diagnosis. However, the tongue image may be broken during the process of collecting the tongue image. Due to the extremely complex texture of the tongue and significant individual differences, existing methods fail to fully obtain sufficient feature information, which result in inaccurate inpainted tongue images. To address this problem, we propose a recurrent tongue image inpainting algorithm based on multi-scale feature fusion called Multi-Scale Fusion Module and Recurrent Attention Mechanism Network (MSFM-RAM-Net). We first propose Multi-Scale Fusion Module (MSFM), which preserves the feature information of tongue images at different scales and enhances the consistency between structures. To simultaneously accelerate the inpainting process and enhance the quality of the inpainted results, Recurrent Attention Mechanism (RAM) is proposed. RAM focuses the network's attention on important areas and uses known information to gradually inpaint image, which can avoid redundant feature information and the problem of texture confusion caused by large missing areas. Finally, we establish a tongue image dataset and use this dataset to qualitatively and quantitatively evaluate the MSFM-RAM-Net. The results shows that the MSFM-RAM-Net has a better effect on tongue image inpainting, with PSNR and SSIM increasing by 2.1% and 3.3%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to tackle the drawback of non-abrasion-resistance of wood flooring with paint finish. A new method for preparing wood flooring with super-abrasion-resistant coatings by adding nano silicon carbide (SiC) particles to the paint was developed. As indicated by the results, the best mass fraction of nano SiC powder added in ultraviolet (UV) paint is 2.0%, the suspension liquid is stable when the mass concentration of sodium hexametaphosphate added is 2.5%, and it is better for the site humidity to remain below 75% when the nano SiC paint coating is applied. During the preparation of wood flooring with super-abrasion-resistant coating finish, the dosage of finish applied each time should not exceed 30 g/m2. During the sanding process, the sanding speed needs to be increased by about 2 m/s compared with that for the ordinary UV nano SiC primer in production. The test results of the performance of finished products indicate that the prepared wood flooring has better film abrasion resistance, adhesion of paint film, and film hardness. Meanwhile, because the paint film is durable and weather resistant, the service life of flooring is effectively extended, avoiding a significant waste of the product's use value and broadening the product's application range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The distinctive and visually striking wooden masks associated with the Bwa culture in Burkina Faso, West Africa, are carved from a soft wood into different shapes and display various geometrical patterns and symbols according to their purpose. One of their characteristic features is the use of the colors black, red, and white, which evoke the three major rivers crossing the country: the Black, Red, and White Voltas. According to published accounts of scholars who have worked directly with the artists, the materials used to obtain these colors include reptile excrement for the white, iron-rich stones powdered and mixed with egg or plant gums for the red, and boiled Acacia seed pods for the black, as well as modern materials such as enamel paint in some cases. A group of four Bwa masks in the Arts of Africa collection of the Art Institute of Chicago was investigated using a complement of analytical techniques including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy, pyrolysis gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, and mass spectrometry-based proteomics to characterize their painting materials. The results obtained corroborate the published accounts, while also providing new insights into the nature of the coloring materials and the selection and substitution of pigments and binders. These findings highlight the complementary value of scientific research, in combination with fieldwork and artists' accounts, to generate a fuller understanding and appreciation of this traditional artistic practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with the properties and testing of newly prepared organic pigments based on melamine cyanurate containing magnesium or zinc cations depending on their composition and anticorrosive properties in model coatings. Organic pigments based on melamine cyanurate with Mg2+ in the form of a complex differing in the ratio of melamine and cyanurate units were prepared. Furthermore, a pigment based on melamine citrate with magnesium cation Mg2+, a pigment based on melamine citrate with magnesium cation, and a pigment based on melamine cyanurate with zinc cation were prepared. The properties of Mg-containing organic pigments were also compared with those of selected magnesium-containing inorganic oxide-type pigments. The above-synthesized pigments were characterized by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy, elemental analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. In addition, the basic parameters that are indicative of the applicability of the pigments in the binders of anti-corrosion coatings were determined. The anti-corrosive properties of the tested pigments were verified after application to the epoxy-ester resin-based paint binder in three different concentrations: at pigment volume concentrations of 0.10%, 0.25%, and 0.50%. The anticorrosive effectiveness of pigmented organic coatings was verified by cyclic corrosion tests in a salt electrolyte fog (NaCl + (NH4)2SO4) in an atmosphere containing SO2 and by the electrochemical technique of linear polarization. Finally, the effect of the structure of the pigments on the mechanical resistance of the organic coatings was investigated. The results obtained showed that the new organic pigments exhibit anticorrosive properties, and at the same time, differences in performance were found depending on the structure of the pigments tested. Specifically, the results of cyclic corrosion tests and the electrochemical technique of linear polarization clearly demonstrated that synthesized pigments of the organic type based on melamine cyanurate containing magnesium or zinc cations ensure the anti-corrosion efficiency of the tested organic coatings. The highest anti-corrosion efficiency was achieved by the system pigmented with synthesized melamine cyanurate with magnesium cation (C12H16MgN18O6), whose anti-corrosion efficiency was comparable to the anti-corrosion efficiency of the tested inorganic pigment MgFe2O4, which was prepared by high-temperature solid-phase synthesis. In addition, these organic coatings achieved high mechanical resistance after being tested using the most used standardized mechanical tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photoluminescent materials used on street and road pavements could absorb solar energy during the day and emit it at night, which will save energy and improve visibility with a consequent improvement in road safety. The aim of this study is to evaluate the luminance of different photoluminescent applications for pavements (bituminous mixes, mortars, and paints) in which strontium aluminate and glass beads were used. Sunlight was simulated with two bulbs, one LED and one UV bulb, inside a measuring apparatus specially developed for this work. The luminance of the different designed solutions was determined at different time periods after their excitation. The results obtained showed that luminescent paints can reach higher luminance than bituminous mixes and mortars. The colour of the base surface on which the paints are applied had a great influence on the obtained luminance, which increases with the aluminate and glass beads content. Among all the solutions evaluated, the paint made with 60% aluminate and 6% glass beads, spread on a white surface, allowed the highest luminance values to be obtained. This study leads to the conclusion that it is possible to achieve a good photoluminescent level while economising on the amount of materials necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The automotive production sector plays a significant role in the energy consumption of all the industrial sphere, which currently represents approximately 38% of the total global energy use. Especially in production sites with several manufacturing lines working in parallel, the occurrence of failures and anomalies or sudden changes in the production volume may require a re-scheduling of the entire production process. In this regard, a digital twin of each phase of the process would give several indications about the new re-scheduled manufacture in terms of energy consumption and the control strategy to adopt. Therefore, the main goal of this paper is to propose different modeling approaches to a degreasing tank process, which is a preliminary phase at automotive production sites before the application of paint to car bodies. In detail, two different approaches have been developed: the first is a physics-based thermodynamic approach, which relies on the mass and energy balances of the system analyzed, and the second is machine learning-based, with the calibration of several artificial neural networks (ANNs). All the investigated approaches were assessed and compared, and it was determined that, for this application and with the data at our disposal, the thermodynamic approach has better prediction accuracy, with an overall mean absolute error (MAE) of 1.30 °C. Moreover, the model can be used to optimize the heat source policy of the tank, for which it has demonstrated, with historical data, an energy saving potentiality of up to 30%, and to simulate future scenarios in which, due to company constraints, a re-scheduling of the production of more work shifts is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When a curved target surface is coated in an electrostatic spray-painting process, the paint film pattern on curved targets will deform, and the thickness will change compared with the planar target due to the curvature characteristics of the target, the inhomogeneous electric field, and the flow field. Therefore, directly using the planar deposition distribution for painting the trajectory planning of curved surfaces causes large errors and low paint transfer efficiency. A study investigating the curved surface paint film thickness distribution characteristics is presented in this research to understand the relations among the target surface curvature, the electrostatic field, and the flow field distribution. Spray-painting process simulations were performed for conical surfaces of different curvatures. Moreover, the paint particle' trajectories, electric potential, and film deposition distribution were computed using ANSYS Fluent. The paint transfer efficiencies of these targets were computed. The results show that when the generatrix curvature of the conical surface increases gradually, the electric field intensity near the wall increases, which enhances the deposition of charged droplets on the wall. Moreover, the airflow field velocity increases as the curvature increases, which leads to a large diffusions of the spray flow field, so the paint thickness decreases, and the transfer efficiency is low. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of a test of epoxy anticorrosion coating repair. Two strategies of coating repair were studied, respectively: partial repair and integral repair. The gloss loss rate, color difference and rust area rate of the repair coating were measured. The anticorrosion performance of repair coatings under different repair methods was compared. Based on the results of the coating repair test, the repair criteria for coatings were defined, and the repair strategy for epoxy anticorrosive coatings on steel structure was proposed. The results show that Marathon 500 super abrasion resistant epoxy paint (M500) and Jotamastic 90 GF low surface treatment epoxy abrasion resistant glass flake paint (J90GF) are suitable for partial repair of epoxy anticorrosive coatings on steel structures, and that Jotamastic 90 low surface treatment epoxy abrasion resistant coating (J90) and Marathon 500 super abrasion resistant epoxy paint (M500) are suitable for integral repair of epoxy anticorrosive coatings on steel structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the paper is to assess the impact of the effectiveness of bonding steel elements with paint coating. The adhesive joints were made using two types of the adhesives: two-component epoxy resin adhesive based on Bisphenol A and polyurethane. Three types of adhesive joints were made: (i) reference samples, (ii) samples with a paint polyester coating, and (iii) samples with a zinc primer and paint polyester coating. These coatings were applied using the electrokinetic method. A shear strength test of the adhesive joints (EN DIN 1465 standard), a coating adhesion test (ASTM D3359-B standard), and surface wettability tests (based on contact angle) were used. Through analyzing the test results, it can be seen that the strength of the adhesive joints of the reference samples made with epoxy adhesive is 46% lower than that of the specimens with primer and paint coating applied. However, in the case of the adhesive joints made with the polyurethane adhesive, the aforementioned difference in the strength value of the adhesive joints of the reference samples and paint-coated samples with an applied primer is 76%. Adherends with a paint coating and a previously applied primer obtained the lowest value of the contact angle (38.72°) and are characterized by good wettability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paint materials and techniques of The Descent from Cross, a panel painting attributed to the Portuguese painter Francisco João (act. 1558–1595), were investigated with a combination of visible, ultraviolet, and infrared imaging and an analysis of paint samples with microscopic, spectroscopic, and chromatographic techniques. The colour palette is composed of lead white, lead–tin yellow, minium, vermilion, ochres of different colours, umber, smalt, azurite, verdigris, charcoal black, and a variety of different-coloured red lakes made of brazilwood and cochineal. An oil-based medium was identified. The characterisation of the pigment mixtures, paint build-up, and particular paint handling techniques enabled us to determine their role in the style and formal appearance of this painting and to discuss Portuguese painting practices in the larger context of 16th-century European painting. Mineral and elemental associations or impurities in the blue pigments, as well as degradation issues affecting minium, and smalt paints were reported. In particular, the deterioration of the glass matrix in some of the smalt particles mixed in lead white paint raises special concern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Materials used for building façades should combine aesthetics with functionality and durability. Vitreous enamels are a class of inorganic coatings, with a glossy and brilliant aspect, as well as high chemical resistance and protective properties. This study aimed to investigate the potentiality of enamel coatings for use in the architectural field. Different accelerated tests were carried out on enamel steel panels to test their durability and resistance to natural aggressive conditions (corrosive atmosphere and basic pH conditions, UV radiation, and pollution) and to mechanical damages. Two colors were chosen, red and white, to determine the effect of the addition of diverse pigments. Paints were employed as reference coating protection systems, as they currently serve as the standard for building façade design. Compared to paints, the enamel panels presented better corrosion protection, with higher adhesion to the steel substrate and stable aesthetic properties during the conducted tests, both in terms of color and gloss. Nevertheless, the white coating exhibited superior color stability, likely attributable to the presence of Se- and Cd-based pigments in the red coating. These pigments are known to be more prone to degradation. Overall, this work showed that porcelain enamels display good functional and aesthetic qualities, which make them suitable for use in the cladding of buildings and as transport infrastructure elements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Incorrect postural habits developed already at an early age are predictors of low back pain and functional limitations in adult life. Postural education programs (PEPs) are activities developed in Physical Education classes with the aim of promoting healthy habits. One tool used by PEPs is comics. The objective of this study was to develop comics and apply them as a teaching tool in PEPs for students aged seven to ten years. The procedures were based on individual empowerment principles, including creation activities, reading, painting, crosswords, and discussion of comics. The activities strengthened the students' interactions, gaining new knowledge that required cognitive and expressive resources to interpret, associate, and conceptualize themes of correct body posture. During six weeks of intervention, knowledge about body posture, anatomy, and health promotion exercises increased significantly in relation to the beginning of activities. The comic book proved to be an effective, attractive, and low-cost didactic resource. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smart vapour barriers enable building envelopes to dry toward the interior side. This property can be used in compact wooden roofs to create more slender structures by placing the wooden load-bearing elements inside the insulation layer. There is, however, some concern that the ceiling assembly on the interior side may inhibit inward drying by trapping moisture between the vapour barrier and the ceiling boards. This article examined the water vapour resistance of gypsum boards painted with two, four, and six layers of typical ceiling paints. WUFI® 2D simulations were conducted to assess the risk of mould growth in compact wooden roofs with painted board ceilings. It was found that a painted ceiling board may exhibit an equivalent stagnant air layer thickness (sd value) between 0.074 m for two layers of the most vapour-open paint and 0.53 m for six layers of the least vapour-open. For an unpainted board, the sd value was measured to be 0.071 m. The difference was not found to make a substantial impact on the drying of a typical compact wooden roof. The application of paint may cause the assembly to dry at a slightly slower rate but was not found to present a notably higher risk of mould growth, even under unfavourable conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several lime mortars for the repair of painted plasters of the rock-cut church of Ss. Pietro and Paolo in Matera were studied. They were designed taking into account both aesthetic criteria that need to be fulfilled in the field of paintings restoration, and physical–mechanical compatibility with the original materials on site, i.e., the pre-existing plasters and the supporting rock. Mixes with calcareous and silica aggregates, based on different grain size proportions, were prepared to fill missing portions of the original painted plaster. The effects of the mineralogical nature and size of the aggregates on the characteristics and properties of the mixes were investigated in relation to the microstructure, physical–mechanical features and resistance to salt ageing. At the end of the experimental campaign, the overall performance was evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paint coated corrosion detection and evaluation is a big challenge for steel performance and structure health. Eddy current pulsed thermography (ECPT) technique is investigated because it can reflect the corrosion physical properties through paint coating by the infrared signal. This paper proposes skewness method, which presents the feature of temperature curve's shape automatically, and compares it with principal component analysis (PCA), phase analysis, and kurtosis feature extraction methods for paint coated corrosion characterization and evaluation. The averaged skewness shows the best sensitivity for 0–6 months corrosion. The normalized second principal component (PC) presents good sensitivity and the best measurement scale for corroded time. Furthermore, the temperature curve analysis proves that the electrical conductivity dominates the induced heating and heat distribution. The corrosion height is utilized to explain why ECPT technique is valid within 10 months corroded time. ECPT technique is proved as a smart sensor system for paint coated corrosion detection and characterization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study proposed a dynamic optimization method for spray gun flow to address the issue of uneven film thickness in the acceleration and deceleration section of the z-shaped spray trajectory in large plane ship segments. The method takes into account the acceleration and deceleration section of the spray trajectory and improves the film thickness distribution. The study first established a static vertical spray coating growth model of the spray gun without considering the acceleration and deceleration of the spray trajectory. Then, we used an integral method to optimize the coating uniformity and established a film thickness distribution model. The optimization of spray speed and spray spacing is crucial in the use of variable flow spray guns. It is assumed that the acceleration and deceleration sections of the spraying trajectory are linear and symmetrical, which forms the basis for establishing a mathematical model for the variable flow spray gun. To determine the flow of the spray gun at different speeds in the acceleration and deceleration sections, the pattern search method was adopted. A section of a ship was used as an example for this study. In this study, we utilized numerical simulations to compare the uniformity of paint film thickness when using a spray gun with a constant flow versus variable flow. The results indicate that when taking into account the acceleration and deceleration section of the spray trajectory, the film thickness was more uniform with a variable flow. These findings demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Featured Application: Smart corrosion protection systems. The corrosion of metals and alloys presents a significant challenge in many industries, demanding constant maintenance, and thereby increasing costs. In response to this problem, the smart corrosion protection coating has emerged as a promising solution. By enabling the immediate detection of, and response to, environmental changes, such as in the temperature and pH, these smart coatings contribute significantly to extending a material's lifespan, and reducing maintenance expenses. In this study, nanomagnetic [poly(aniline-co-o-toluidine)/Fe3O4] systems were prepared and used as a self-healing corrosion inhibitor, mixed with alkyd paint at different weight percentages (5–25%). The composites were used as a coating on carbon steel (C1010), and their corrosion protection performance was tested in 0.1 mol/L HCl, using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and FTIR analyses. The results showed an adequate corrosion inhibition performance for the developed composites, compared to the alkyd paint alone, reaching an inhibition efficiency of 80% at 20 wt.% of composite. Adding increasing weight percentages of the developed composites to the paints led to a significant increase in the corrosion resistance, accompanied by a remarkable decrease in the double-layer capacitance. Thus, these developed composites show excellent potential as a corrosion protection formulation in paints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A painted stone reredos in the Priory Church of St Cuthbert, Worksop, Nottinghamshire, UK, was analysed before recent conservation to determine the pigment scheme employed. The screen was created by the eminent British architect Sir George Gilbert Scott in the middle decade of the 19th Century. The results help inform the wider range of palettes employed by British architects and craftspeople working in the 19th and early 20th centuries which have previously been little studied. The pigments generally were high-quality vermilion (red), chrome yellow (yellow), and ultramarine (blue), and several alternatives were also evident such as red lead and haematite for red, bone black, and carbon black for black. Lightening and darkening agents were incorporated as lead white, barytes, and carbon, and pigment mixtures were used to achieve the colours dark blue-red, and green. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the impact of different sandpaper sanding meshes on the mechanical and optical properties of microencapsulated Tilia sp. film. An orthogonal experiment revealed that sanding between primers had the most significant effect. Furthermore, an independent experiment implied that increasing the mesh size resulted in decreased surface roughness and decreased color difference, elongation at break, and gloss after liquid resistance. In the aging test, the color difference of the paint film increased with the aging time, and the gloss tended to stabilize. Additionally, the anti-aging gloss of 240 mesh sandpaper used between primers remained relatively stable. The paint film sanded with 240 mesh sandpaper between primers displayed small and regular cracks after temperature and UV aging. Overall, the paint film demonstrated good comprehensive performance when sanded with 240 mesh between primers, 240 mesh between primer/topcoat, and 1000 mesh for topcoat. Self-repairing microcapsules showed better repair efficacy on the coating. This study provides a technical reference for the development of self-repairing coatings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Madonna with Child by Andrea Mantegna owned by the Museo Poldi Pezzoli in Milan is painted on canvas with an unusual distemper technique. During the period of 1863–1865, the painting was restored by Giuseppe Molteni. The identification of potential retouchings by Molteni, possibly covering part of the original layer, was the object of this work carried at the Opificio delle Pietre Dure. To evaluate the extent of both Molteni's intervention and Mantegna's original layer, the MA-XRF spectrometer developed by CHNet-INFN was used to discriminate between the two paint layers and identify the materials and the extension of both "artists". Indeed, the elemental maps showed that Molteni's work entirely covered the mantle of the Virgin, even changing the fold of the draperies and enriching the red robe with shell gold highlights, giving a different appearance to the painting. Moreover, MA-XRF also revealed that the original Mantegna was still mostly intact underneath Molteni's layer, thereby providing a decisive guide for conservation works. These results indeed formed the basis for the technical decision to remove the varnish and Molteni's version, unveiling the original Mantegna. A second MA-XRF campaign was then carried out to fully characterise the materials of this unusual painting technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graffiti can create detrimental aesthetic and environmental damage to city infrastructure and cultural heritage and requires improved removal methods. Incumbent laser, mechanical and chemical removal techniques are often not effective, are expensive or damage the substrate. Solvents are generally hazardous and not always effective because of the insolubility of the graffiti paint. This study proposes a simple strategy for safe and effective graffiti removal, using the bio-based, non-toxic and biodegradable solvent dihydrolevoglucosenone (Cyrene™). The results showed that the type of substrate influenced the cleaning performance; in benchmark studies a non-porous substrate was easy to clean, while porous ceramic showed the presence of residual paint and yellowing when the conventional polar aprotic solvents were used. Cyrene, however, showed good removability of graffiti paint from both glazed and porous substrates, with little paint remaining in the pores of ceramic tiles. The paint suffered a reversible change in colour and a selective solubility of its components when using N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone; no changes occurred when Cyrene was used. While N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone and N,N′-dimethylformamide were only effective when neat, a Cyrene–water mixture showed some cleaning results. The performance of Cyrene was validated with Hansen solubility parameters and represents a greener and more sustainable solvent for paint removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: A hidden portrait of Werner Tübke's father was revealed. The state of the painting, the texture of the author's brushstroke, the technique of applying the paint layer, the artist's work on the composition, and the types of pigments and binders used were identified. The unique artistic language of Werner Tübke at an early stage of the artist's work was examined. The grounds have been laid for the further comparison of Tübke's early paintings with his later works, as well as his contemporaries' and predecessors'. This article presents the results of technical studies of the oil painting by the artist of German origin Werner Tübke "Hiroshima I" (1958). The creative heritage of this author has not been studied enough and represents scattered data on the technology of painting and artistic techniques. The aim of this work was to determine the art materials and painting technology described in his diaries, using the example of his only painting represented in Russia: "Hiroshima I". For this purpose, an in situ approach was implemented using some simple museum instrumentations—UV-induced visible luminescence, infrared reflectography (IRR), radiography, portable X-ray fluorescence (XRF), Fourier transform Infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and polarizing microscopy using microprobes. As a result, the pigment composition of the painting layers could be determined, the painting technology refined, and a previously unknown hidden portrait of Werner Tübke's father revealed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, computer simulation is being used to develop new materials. Many of them are dispersed media (e.g., paints, and 3D printer inks). Modern automotive paints are of great interest in research works. They contain colorant particles and thin flat metallic or pearlescent flakes distributed in a clear varnish. There are two main approaches to simulation of light scattering in a dispersed media. The first one is based on the continuous medium model. This model is faster but less accurate. The second approach is the simulation of light propagation through an ensemble of paint flakes and particles represented as an explicit geometry. This model correctly calculates light scattering but is rather time-consuming. In our study, we investigated the dependence of the painted surface luminance on particle size and compared both the approaches. We prove that the effect of coarse particles can emerge even in a model where positions of these particles are not correlated; this is different from the mainstream studies which have only concentrated on the role of these correlations. Then, we suggest a semi-analytical model of dependence on particle size. This model not only allows to more accurately simulate visual appearance but also admits intuitive comprehension of how it is affected by various medium parameters. In case of the divergence between the results of LTE and accurate approaches, we propose a simple approximation that allows to improve the accuracy of the LTE results for coarse particles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper considers the results of an examination of painted pottery from prehistoric sites of the Prmor'ye region (Southern Russian Far East) in the northwestern part of the Sea of Japan basin. Red-painted and black-painted ceramic wares occur here only in the remains of the Yankovskaya archaeological culture dated to the 1st mil. BCE. Red painting appears as a colored surface coating, and black painting is represented by very simple drawn patterns. Until recently painting decorations have not been intentionally studied. The objects of our investigation are a small series of red-painted and black-painted ceramic fragments originated from archaeological sites. The methods of optical microscopy, SEM-EDS, and Raman spectroscopy were applied to the study of research materials. As a result, the data on characteristics of texture and composition of red and black paints were obtained. Both were determined to be pre-firing paints. Red paint is a clayish substance mixed with natural ochre pigment containing the hematite coloring agent. Black paint is carbon-based. Black carbon and burnt bone are recognized as colorants. The presented materials are new evidence of pottery paint technologies in prehistoric Eurasia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this work is to determine how the mechanical and physical properties of render mortars, in particular their moisture performance, are affected by the application of paint. In this study, three commercial paints, hydro-pliolite-based paint, acrylic paint and silicate paint, were applied as coating layers on render mortars formulated with different binders. The choice of the binders used (hydrated lime, natural hydraulic lime and cement) was related to the functional requirements that the renders have to fulfil according to the type of buildings where they are applied (i.e., new or old buildings). Firstly, the hardness and surface cohesion of the different painted and unpainted renders were analysed in order to investigate the effect of the type of paint on the mechanical strength of the render surface. The influence of the paints on the moisture behaviour of the renders was then investigated using the water capillarity test, the water vapour permeability test and the drying test. The results show that all the paints studied can cause a significant change in the behaviour of the renders in terms of moisture transport phenomena. Nevertheless, it can be concluded that acrylic paint has the greatest resistance to water absorption, but it is also the paint with the higher resistance to water vapour diffusion. Hydro pliolite paint was found to be adequate from the point of view of reducing moisture accumulation and is the most recommended for old buildings with hydrated lime or hydraulic lime-based renders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Restorers and curators in museums sometimes find it difficult to accurately segment areas of paintings that have been contaminated with other pigments or areas that need to be restored, and work on the painting needs to be carried out with minimum possible damage. It is therefore necessary to develop measurement systems and methods that facilitate this task in the least invasive way possible. The aim of this study was to obtain high-dynamic-range (HDR) spectral reflectance and spatial resolution for Dalí's painting entitled Two Figures (1926) in order to segment a small area of black and white pigment that was affected by the contact transfer of reddish pigment from another painting. Using Hypermatrixcam to measure the HDR spectral reflectance developed by this research team, an HDR multispectral cube of 12 images was obtained for the band 470–690 nm in steps of 20 nm. With the values obtained for the spectral reflectance of the HDR cube, the colour of the area of paint affected by the transfer was studied by calculating the a*b* components with the CIELab system. These a*b* values were then used to define two methods of segmenting the exact areas in which there was a transfer of reddish pigment. The area studied in the painting was originally black, and the contamination with reddish pigment occupied 13.87% to 32% of the total area depending on the selected method. These different solutions can be explained because the lower limit is segmentation based on pure pigment and the upper limit considers red as an exclusion of non-black pigment. Over- and under-segmentation is a common problem described in the literature related to pigment selection. In this application case, as red pigment is not original and should be removed, curators will choose the method that selects the highest red area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to assess the effect of hollow glass microspheres of different sizes derived from glass industry waste on the durability and thermal behavior of waterborne paint. The coatings were characterized by electron microscopy to investigate the distribution of the spheres and their influence on the layer morphology. The impact of the various glassy spheres on the mechanical feature of the coatings was assessed using the Buchholz hardness test and the Scrub abrasion test. The role of the spheres in altering the durability of the samples was analyzed by the salt spray exposure test and the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements. Finally, a specific accelerated degradation test was carried out to explore the evolution of the thermal behavior of the composite coatings. Ultimately, this work revealed the pros and cons of using hollow glass spheres as a multifunctional paint filler, highlighting the size of the spheres as a key parameter. For example, spheres with adequate size (25–44 µm), totally embedded in the polymeric matrix, are able to reduce the thermal conductivity of the coating avoiding local heat accumulation phenomena. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, untreated and surface-treated wooden facades of buildings are investigated and compared with regard to durability, environmental impact, and cost using the document and literature studies supplemented with quantitative data. The investigation is based on the influence on the wood by external factors, either in its natural form or with a protective layer of a surface treatment. It is resulted from the study that from a durability viewpoint, it is not always advantageous to paint a wooden facade. Yakisugi, a thermal modification for wooden facades that involves burning the wood to create a protective surface layer, has shown better properties, which, in combination with a lower need for maintenance, can be considered the leading treatment for facades. From an environmental perspective, Yakisugi, like untreated wood, has demonstrated advantages compared with conventional paints. Paints often come with maintenance requirements that should be carried out correctly to avoid extensive costs. Cost is an important factor that can be decisive when users choose a surface treatment. What determines the cost is the relationship between durability and maintenance intervals. The need for the maintenance of paints leads to large financial costs during the working life of a wooden facade, which differs from Yakisugi or an untreated wooden facade that can be considered maintenance-free. In order to meet the growing environmental demands from a national level to a global scale, unconventional surface treatments for wooden facades should be promoted in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the centuries, humans have developed different systems to protect surfaces from the influence of environmental factors. Protective paints are the most used ones. They have undergone considerable development over the years, especially at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. Indeed, between the two centuries, new binders and pigments have been introduced in the constituent materials of paints. The years in which these compounds have been introduced and spread in the paint market allow them to be defined as markers for the dating of paints and painted artifacts. The present work is focused on the study of the paints of two vehicles of the Frankfurt Museum of Communication, i.e., a carriage and a cart, that was designed for the German Postal and Telecommunications Service roughly between 1880 and 1920. The characterization of the paints was performed through in situ non-invasive techniques, i.e., portable optical microscopy and multispectral imaging, and laboratory non-destructive techniques, i.e., FT-IR ATR spectroscopy and SEM-EDS. The analytical investigation and the comparison with the data reported in the literature allowed us to determine the historicity of the paints, which are all dated before the 1950s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyurethanes with self-healing and reprocessing capabilities are promising in eco-friendly applications. Here, a self-healable and recyclable zwitterionic polyurethane (ZPU) was developed by introducing ionic bonds between protonated ammonium groups and sulfonic acid moieties. The structure of the synthesized ZPU was characterized by FTIR and XPS. The thermal, mechanical, self-healing and recyclable properties of ZPU were also investigated in detail. Compared with cationic polyurethane (CPU), ZPU shows similar thermal stability. The physical cross-linking network formed between zwitterion groups can dissipate strain energy as a weak dynamic bond, endowing ZPU with outstanding mechanical and elastic recovery properties, including the high tensile strength of 7.38 MPa, high elongation at a break of 980%, and fast elastic recovery ability. Additionally, ZPU exhibits a healing efficiency of over 93% at 50 °C for 1.5 h as a result of the dynamic reconstruction of reversible ionic bonds. Furthermore, ZPU can be well reprocessed by solution casting and hot-pressing with a recovery efficiency above 88%. The excellent mechanical properties, fast repairing capability, and good recyclability not only enable polyurethane with a promising application in protective coatings for textiles and paints but also make it a superior candidate as stretchable substrates for wearable electronic devices and strain sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymer parts often replace traditional metallic parts in load-bearing applications due to their high strength-to-weight ratio, with thermoplastics at the forefront. Conventional manufacturing processes rely on using fasteners or adhesives to hold composite assemblies together, but thermoplastics can be welded together. Ultrasonic welding is widely used but becomes challenging for complex geometries, and new parameters need to be developed for different polymers and specimen geometries. In this work, we developed a closed-loop welding machine that employs the recent discovery of radio-frequency (RF) heating of carbonaceous materials. The machine is successfully able to weld polylactic acid (PLA) coupons with graphitic RF susceptors at the bondline in less than 2 min and using less than 50 W of input RF power. We found that a higher areal density of the graphitic paint lowers the mechanical properties of the weld because the carbonaceous materials hinder polymer chain diffusion. A significant change was not observed in weld properties for welding pressure ranges between 0 and 0.3 MPa. However, increasing out-of-plane welding displacement increased the modulus and strength of the weld. This work provides an interesting new automated system for welding polymer composites using RF fields, with potential applications in various manufacturing industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Machine tools are machines that manufacture different machines and parts. Therefore, the machine tools that support all types of manufacturing are known as "mother machines". When machining using a machine tool, a cutting tool is mounted into a female taper socket. Wear on the inner surface of the female taper which occurs when changing tools or during heavy cutting has an influence on the lifespan of a tool. Therefore, female tapers require periodic maintenance. In the maintenance on the female tapers of machine tools, sensory inspection has been standardized in JIS and ISO standards. However, this inspection is impossible to evaluate quantitatively and requires a great deal of time. Additionally, this sensory method produces varying accuracies depending on the operators. Therefore, a new method of wear amount measurement was proposed in a previous study to solve these problems. The proposed method is a quantitative measurement method independent of the skill level of the operators. This paper therefore reports an improved method to reduce the error of measurement results using the proposed method. If this proposed method is established, it will contribute to improving production efficiency at the production site. In this method, red lead paint is mixed with red lead powder and oil is used to estimate the amount of wear based on the luminance value of the red lead paint. The red lead concentration has a significant influence on the results. In this study, we investigate the influence of red lead concentration through experiments and report the results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]