{"title":"A Novel waterproofing agent for conservation of masonry architectural heritage: enhancing hydrophobic properties and anti-erosion capabilities","authors":"Jiashun Shi, Qing Chun, Zhekui Cui","doi":"10.1038/s40494-026-02856-2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s40494-026-02856-2","url":null,"abstract":"Porous construction materials such as brick, stone, and mortar, commonly observed in masonry architectural heritage, are vulnerable to water-induced degradation, including through dry–wet cycles, freeze–thaw cycles, and chemical erosion. To mitigate these effects and enhance the durability of masonry materials, a novel silane–based waterproofing emulsion was synthesized using isobutyltriethoxysilane and 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorodecyltriethoxysilane as key components. The emulsion’s performance was systematically assessed through color difference analysis, water contact angle measurements, capillary water absorption tests, and durability evaluations. Results indicated that the waterproofing emulsion induced negligible color variation while markedly increasing surface hydrophobicity, reducing water absorption, and improving resistance to both dry–wet and freeze–thaw damage. These findings demonstrate the potential of silane–based emulsions as a viable waterproofing strategy for the conservation of masonry architectural heritage while maintaining material compatibility.","PeriodicalId":19270,"journal":{"name":"npj Materials Degradation","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-07-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148672192","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Deciphering the structure and properties of wheat starch-based paste through a multi-response factorial design experiment","authors":"Panpan Liu, Yujia Luo, Zihuan Hou, Yunpeng Qi, Guangtao Zhao, Yuhu Li","doi":"10.1038/s40494-026-02492-w","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s40494-026-02492-w","url":null,"abstract":"Wheat starch-based pastes, including wheat starch paste and wheat flour paste containing wheat protein, are extensively employed in the conservation of paper-based heritage objects. This study investigated the effects of mass fraction, protein, and gelatinization temperature on the key properties of the pastes using a 23 factorial experimental design. Characterization confirmed the absence of long-range ordered structures and the presence of short-range ordered features in the prepared pastes. Results demonstrated that protein predominantly affects pH variation. Gelatinization temperature was identified as the dominant factor for water holding capacity, whereas both gelatinization temperature and mass fraction, along with their interaction, governed the apparent viscosity, a conclusion directly supported by SEM observations showing that these conditions promote a denser and honeycomb-like network structure. Furthermore, mass fraction influences relative crystallinity, while both gelatinization temperature and protein collectively enhance thermal stability. These findings provide scientific basis for wheat starch-based paste in paper heritage conservation.","PeriodicalId":19270,"journal":{"name":"npj Materials Degradation","volume":"14 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.nature.com/articles/s40494-026-02492-w.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147877550","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Decoupling the effects of mass fraction, protein content, and gelatinization temperature in wheat starch-based paste on Xuan paper degradation","authors":"Panpan Liu, Mantang Ge, Xunwei Li, Yuyao Ruan, Yuhu Li, Yu Luo","doi":"10.1038/s40494-026-02483-x","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s40494-026-02483-x","url":null,"abstract":"Wheat starch-based paste is a traditional adhesive used in paper relic conservation. This study systematically investigates the effects of three key parameters (mass fraction, protein content, and gelatinization temperature) in wheat starch-based paste on the degradation behavior of Xuan paper. ATR-FTIR characterized the molecular structure of Xuan paper after separate starch and flour treatment. Through a 23 factorial experimental design, we demonstrate that mass fraction serves as the primary factor controlling paper lightness loss, yellowing, color change increase, and acidification, while protein content predominantly governs the reduction in 400 nm reflectance. Protein conformational changes indicated by fluorescence red shifts and a shift from α-helix to random coil structures were key factors in loss of film flexibility. After 17-day degradation, paste-treated paper showed more severe degradation in optical properties and developed microcracks, contrasting with untreated paper in wettability and crystallinity. The work provides a framework for understanding wheat paste-induced paper degradation.","PeriodicalId":19270,"journal":{"name":"npj Materials Degradation","volume":"14 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147879958","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Deepthi Mariam Geevarghese, Soroosh Hakimian, Emmanuel Mena-Morcillo, Elliott Asare, Li Sun, Cecile De Medeiros, Samantha Michelle Gateman
{"title":"Resolving the mechanism of inclusion-controlled corrosion in advanced high-strength steels with scanning electrochemical probe microscopy.","authors":"Deepthi Mariam Geevarghese, Soroosh Hakimian, Emmanuel Mena-Morcillo, Elliott Asare, Li Sun, Cecile De Medeiros, Samantha Michelle Gateman","doi":"10.1038/s41529-026-00815-7","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41529-026-00815-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Advanced high-strength steels (AHSS) enable lightweight automotive design through reduced steel thickness, increasing the need for corrosion-resistant materials. Due to their high alloying element content, localized corrosion in AHSS is often driven by microstructural heterogeneities such as nonmetallic inclusions. In this work, the initiation and propagation of inclusion-induced localized corrosion in AHSS were investigated using a complementary combination of scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) and scanning electrochemical cell microscopy (SECCM). Short-term immersion experiments revealed that corrosion initiates preferentially at spinel-type (Al-Mg-O) inclusions and their interfaces with the steel matrix, where micro-crevice formation precedes localized dissolution and eventual inclusion detachment. SECM feedback-mode mapping demonstrated reduced mediator regeneration currents over inclusions relative to the surrounding matrix, consistent with their electrically insulating nature. In contrast, SECCM provided direct, spatially resolved electrochemical measurements under confined electrolyte conditions, revealing enhanced local anodic activity at inclusion-matrix interfaces associated with crevice formation. By combining SECM and SECCM, this study establishes a multiscale electrochemical framework for investigating complex corrosion phenomena. The results show that spinel inclusions promote micro-crevice corrosion, whereas AlN inclusions do not exhibit enhanced reactivity and are not initiation sites for localized corrosion.</p>","PeriodicalId":19270,"journal":{"name":"npj Materials Degradation","volume":"10 1","pages":"112"},"PeriodicalIF":7.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13553308/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148920656","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Development of spectroelectrochemical microscopy for the real-time study of electrochemical surface processes.","authors":"Matteo Olgiati, Markus Valtiner","doi":"10.1038/s41529-025-00728-x","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41529-025-00728-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>We present a multimodal methodology integrating time-resolved inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) with operando reflected microscopy to characterise electrochemical surface processes. Enabled by a custom scanning flow cell, this approach allows simultaneous high-resolution optical inspection under controlled polarisation and continuous electrolyte flow. While ICP-MS and reflected microscopy have each advanced the study of electrocatalysis and corrosion, their direct combination correlates spatially resolved optical changes with quantitative, time-dependent dissolution kinetics. To illustrate its potential, we examined copper electrodes in dilute NaCl solutions with and without 2-mercaptobenzothiazole (2-MBT), a well-established corrosion inhibitor. The joint analysis distinguished mechanistic regimes of cathodic and oxide dissolution, uniform corrosion, passivation, and localised breakdown by linking morphology and optical features with dissolution profiles. Beyond this case, the methodology provides a versatile platform for <i>operando</i> electrochemical interface characterisation, bridging dynamic surface phenomena with kinetic reactivity.</p>","PeriodicalId":19270,"journal":{"name":"npj Materials Degradation","volume":"10 1","pages":"15"},"PeriodicalIF":7.6,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12855015/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146106566","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ceren Kütahya, Catalina Cruañas Pániker, Faith Ly, Arjun Jerath, Emma Little, Rocio Gali, Muhammad Zuhayr Bin Dzul Haimi, Abdul Hafiz Bin Abd Malek, Karimah Binti Muhamad, Suffeiya Binti Supian, Taylor B Young, Sally Lawrence, Thomas Bell, Tan Yong Nee, José I Jiménez, Florence Huynh
{"title":"Masterbatch-enabled acceleration of polyolefin biodegradation under open air terrestrial environmental conditions.","authors":"Ceren Kütahya, Catalina Cruañas Pániker, Faith Ly, Arjun Jerath, Emma Little, Rocio Gali, Muhammad Zuhayr Bin Dzul Haimi, Abdul Hafiz Bin Abd Malek, Karimah Binti Muhamad, Suffeiya Binti Supian, Taylor B Young, Sally Lawrence, Thomas Bell, Tan Yong Nee, José I Jiménez, Florence Huynh","doi":"10.1038/s41529-026-00817-5","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41529-026-00817-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Polyolefins, commonly used in packaging and single-use products, are notoriously persistent in the environment, contributing significantly to environmental pollution. In scientific literature to date, polyolefins have not been reported to fully biodegrade. This study examines the biodegradation potential of polyolefin materials, specifically polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), enhanced through the incorporation of Biotransformation Masterbatch technology. The inclusion of the Biotransformation Masterbatch accelerated and enabled the full biodegradation of PE and PP, as demonstrated by laboratory weathering, and biodegradation studies in soil at mesophilic temperatures. Ecotoxicity tests revealed no adverse effects on test organisms in both soil and water environments, while metagenomics analysis demonstrated that biodegradation of these polyolefins did not significantly change the soil microbiota composition, which showed higher metabolic activity compared to virgin plastic controls. These findings demonstrate that Biotransformation technology provides an effective solution for delivering polyolefin-based materials with reduced environmental impact. It offers a sustainable alternative to conventional plastics, preserving the performance characteristics of traditional polyolefins while addressing the problem with fugitive plastic waste in the environment.</p>","PeriodicalId":19270,"journal":{"name":"npj Materials Degradation","volume":"10 1","pages":"90"},"PeriodicalIF":7.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13461336/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148725886","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"How CMAS infiltration degrades grain boundaries in thermal barrier ceramics: dual pathways to embrittlement.","authors":"Yang Liu, Craig J Williams, Gyaneshwara Brewster, Alison Pawley, Ping Xiao, Ying Chen","doi":"10.1038/s41529-026-00843-3","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41529-026-00843-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Thermal barrier coatings used in aeroengines are vulnerable to calcia-magnesia-alumino-silicate (CMAS) attack, which infiltrates through pores and grain boundaries (GBs), accelerating coating degradation. However, the influence of CMAS on GB fracture resistance remains insufficiently understood. Here, we combine high-resolution characterization, micromechanical testing, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations to elucidate how infiltrated CMAS degrades fracture toughness and alters fracture behaviour in yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ), a model thermal barrier ceramic. Two distinct GB types are identified in CMAS-infiltrated layers: (i) GBs containing nanoscale glassy CMAS films near the surface, and (ii) GBs enriched with CMAS-derived cations (Al³⁺ and Si⁴⁺) but without discernible glassy phases at greater depths. Micromechanical tests reveal a fracture toughness gradient that increases from the surface inward, accompanied by a transition from intergranular to transgranular fracture. When GBs are filled with glassy CMAS films, cracks preferentially propagate through the intergranular CMAS layers due to its low intrinsic toughness, leading to pronounced GB embrittlement. However, an unexpected yet important finding is that GBs doped with Al³⁺ and Si⁴⁺ also exhibit significant embrittlement even in the absence of continuous glassy CMAS films. DFT calculations show that the incorporation of Al³⁺ and Si⁴⁺ into GBs weakens Zr-O bonds along potential fracture paths through site-specific substitution or interstitial occupation. This bond-weakening effect-independent of whether Al³⁺ or Si⁴⁺ acts alone or together-increases GB energy while reducing separation energy, thereby lowering fracture toughness with increasing impurity concentration. The study provides direct atomistic insight into CMAS-induced GB embrittlement mechanisms in thermal barrier ceramics.</p>","PeriodicalId":19270,"journal":{"name":"npj Materials Degradation","volume":"10 1","pages":"115"},"PeriodicalIF":7.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13570813/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148963632","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Desmond D C Williams, Ali Riahi, Anatolie Carcea, Taylor Martino, Nicholas A Senior, Jason D Giallonardo, Peter Keech, Suraj Y Persaud, Mark R Daymond, Roger C Newman
{"title":"Hydrogen embrittlement and strain rate sensitivity of electrodeposited copper: part II - hydrogen dynamics.","authors":"Desmond D C Williams, Ali Riahi, Anatolie Carcea, Taylor Martino, Nicholas A Senior, Jason D Giallonardo, Peter Keech, Suraj Y Persaud, Mark R Daymond, Roger C Newman","doi":"10.1038/s41529-026-00799-4","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41529-026-00799-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In part I of this study, a previously unexplained form of hydrogen embrittlement and strain rate sensitivity was observed in electrodeposited copper. Here, the authors explored the dynamics of retained hydrogen in electrodeposited copper. Thermal desorption analyses were performed to characterize hydrogen trap energies of 0.39 ± 0.05, 0.63 ± 0.04, and 1.1 ± 0.04 eV. Annealing was conducted to evaluate the possibility of baking out hydrogen from electrodeposited copper and restoring ductility. A new electrodeposited material which is a candidate for coating used nuclear fuel containers was synthesized using tailored electrodeposition parameters, resulting in only 3.03 ± 0.58 ppm hydrogen, as compared to 26.4 ± 1.0 ppm. The mobility of hydrogen as it relates to embrittlement is discussed, and it is proposed that only hydrogen stored in low-energy trap sites contributes to embrittlement.</p>","PeriodicalId":19270,"journal":{"name":"npj Materials Degradation","volume":"10 1","pages":"87"},"PeriodicalIF":7.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13341317/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148412386","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Stefan Fritze, Barbara Osinger, Petter Ström, Graeme Greaves, Per Eklund, Oscar M Prada-Ramirez, Vladimir M Vishnyakov, Matheus A Tunes
{"title":"Exceptional irradiation and corrosion resistances of a TaC nanoceramic coating deposited onto ZIRLO™ fuel cladding.","authors":"Stefan Fritze, Barbara Osinger, Petter Ström, Graeme Greaves, Per Eklund, Oscar M Prada-Ramirez, Vladimir M Vishnyakov, Matheus A Tunes","doi":"10.1038/s41529-026-00813-9","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41529-026-00813-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Improving the accident tolerance of zirconium-based nuclear fuel claddings is essential to mitigate oxidation-driven hydrogen generation under loss-of-coolant conditions. Here, a nanostructured tantalum carbide (TaC) ceramic coating is deposited onto ZIRLO™ fuel cladding by non-reactive DC magnetron sputtering. The coating was systematically assessed with respect to its microstructural stability, irradiation tolerance, and corrosion behaviour. Characterisation of as-deposited coating confirms a dense, nanocrystalline B1-type TaC structure with excellent adhesion and negligible interdiffusion at the coating-substrate interface. In situ transmission electron microscopy with heavy-ion irradiation up to ~8 dpa reveals exceptional radiation resistance, with no evidence of amorphization, phase decomposition, or radiation-induced segregation. Limited grain coarsening and the formation of Xe bubbles (~2 nm) were observed. Electrochemical measurements in borated aqueous media demonstrated rapid passivation, very low corrosion current densities, and high impedance over prolonged exposure. These results identify nanostructured TaC as a robust and scalable candidate coating for accident-tolerant fuel cladding systems.</p>","PeriodicalId":19270,"journal":{"name":"npj Materials Degradation","volume":"10 1","pages":"103"},"PeriodicalIF":7.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13503267/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148818822","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Philipp Hammer, Oleg E Peil, Ahmad Azizpour, Liese Vandewalle, Kim Verbeken, Tom Depover, Vsevolod I Razumovskiy
{"title":"The fingerprint method for analysis of thermal desorption spectra.","authors":"Philipp Hammer, Oleg E Peil, Ahmad Azizpour, Liese Vandewalle, Kim Verbeken, Tom Depover, Vsevolod I Razumovskiy","doi":"10.1038/s41529-025-00718-z","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41529-025-00718-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The analysis of thermal desorption spectra (TDS) and the calculation of hydrogen detrapping activation energies rely on Gaussian peak deconvolution and Choo-Lee plot regression since 1982. However, this method imposes important assumptions about the number and shape of the TDS peaks used for fitting. In this study, we propose the <i>fingerprint</i> method, an alternative approach that eliminates these long-standing constraints. By applying the <i>fingerprint</i> analysis to eight TDS spectra from three different Fe-C model alloys, we demonstrate its exceptional sensitivity and ability to resolve activation energy distributions - the material <i>fingerprint</i> - unattainable with traditional methods. We further showcase by manual and automated analysis how the such obtained <i>fingerprints</i> can be used to uniquely distinguish the TDS spectra of each alloy independent of the heating rate. Thus the <i>fingerprint</i> method also increases experimental efficiency by reducing the amount of necessary heating rates for TDS down to one.</p>","PeriodicalId":19270,"journal":{"name":"npj Materials Degradation","volume":"10 1","pages":"7"},"PeriodicalIF":7.6,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12799485/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145990038","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}