Polymers-based nanocomposite coatings

Polymer-based nanocomposite coatings (PBNCs) are hybrid coating systems that consist of two different phases, namely, the matrix (i.e., polymeric resins) and the reinforcing agents in the nanosized domain (i.e., inorganic nanoparticles). PBNCs have numerous potential applications in the automotive, construction, energy, consumer electronic goods, military, and medical applications. It is an excellent choice as a comprehensive coating system to ensure the stability and the corrosion protection of the coated material along with other functional properties, such as the hydrophobicity, self-cleaning ability, self-healing with superior adhesion, transparency, ultraviolet (UV) stability, and low infrared emissivity. PBNC coating systems have been used and investigated during the last few years. However, this chapter will obtain detailed information about the recent attempts that aimed to develop polymer-based coating systems and further discuss the influence of embedding different types, size and loading ratio of inorganic nanoparticles within the different types of polymeric host matrices. As the polymeric matrices usually characterized with weak barrier performance, hydrophilic surface, low thermal and UV stability, the chemical resistance, the high affinity between water and polar groups of polymers, which in turns, limit the applications of these materials. Therefore second phase in the form of nanosized inorganic particles will be needed to overcome the polymeric materials short comes. The combination of the organic and inorganic functionalities as well as the distinctive properties of the materials in the nanodomain play the vital role in developing a unique mixture of desired properties without sacrificing in any of the starting materials features.