Polymer Degradation and Stability最新文献

{"title":"Gravity-induced asymmetric gradient PVA-based films with superior radiative cooling and flame retardancy for energy-saving building","authors":"Lian Yin ,&nbsp;Yuanyuan Zhang ,&nbsp;Yizhi Liu ,&nbsp;Sheng Zhang ,&nbsp;Keqing Zhou","doi":"10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2026.111964","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2026.111964","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Polymer-based radiative cooling materials show great promise for green building and carbon neutrality by offering passive cooling. However, their effectiveness is limited by absorption of ambient heat radiation, and inherent flammability, which poses a serious challenge to meeting building safety regulations. Hence, this study modified TiO₂ surfaces using KH-550 and phytic acid to prepare silicon/phosphorus co-modified TiO₂ nanohybrids (KH-TiO₂-PA), which were incorporated into a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) matrix. Through gravity-induced self-assembly, an asymmetrically gradient multifunctional composite film was formed, exhibiting effective radiative cooling, flame retardancy, and enhanced mechanical strength. Owing to its unique gravity-induced asymmetric gradient structure and the vibrational characteristics of C-C, Ti-O-Ti, Si-O-Si, P-O, and P=O bonds, the PVA/37.5%KH-TiO₂-PA composite film achieved a solar reflectivity of 84.7% and an infrared emissivity of 91.1%. Furthermore, the film demonstrated remarkable cooling performance, reducing temperature by up to 10.4°C in outdoor tests, with daytime and nighttime cooling power values of 61.1 W·m⁻² and 98.1 W·m⁻², respectively. According to EnergyPlus simulations, deploying the film on buildings significantly reduced energy consumption (up to 88.24% savings) and cut CO₂ emissions (up to 2.69 tons and $ 486.97 per year). Meanwhile, the incorporation of KH-TiO₂-PA facilitated gas-phase radical quenching and condensed-phase barrier effects, leading to a 40.5% reduction in peak heat release rate and a 58.6% suppression of peak CO₂ production, which substantially enhanced fire safety. Notley, when reinforced with the nanoparticles, the PVA/12.5%KH-TiO₂-PA composite achieved a tensile strength of 113.28 MPa and a Young’s modulus of 4.82 GPa, demonstrating 39.9% and 56.5% enhancements, respectively. This study offers a viable strategy for addressing climate challenges and supporting safe green building development, thereby promoting the application of multifunctional materials in energy-efficient buildings.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":406,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Degradation and Stability","volume":"246 ","pages":"Article 111964"},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146074293","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"From waste to resource: valorizing hard segments from acidolyzed PU foam as additives in PVC","authors":"Yulu Zhu ,&nbsp;Yujia Ding ,&nbsp;Jianing Yang ,&nbsp;Daoguang Han ,&nbsp;Zheng Zhou ,&nbsp;Meng Ma ,&nbsp;Si Chen ,&nbsp;Yanqin Shi ,&nbsp;Huiwen He ,&nbsp;Wei Wang ,&nbsp;Xu Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2025.111909","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2025.111909","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The escalating production of plastic waste underscores an urgent need for sustainable polymer recycling. Polyurethane (PU) foam, representing over 50 % of PU output, is particularly challenging to recycle due to its crosslinked structure. While chemical degradation can recover polyols, the hard segment residues (PUSR) remain underutilized. This study presents an innovative strategy for upcycling waste PU foam into a value-added flame retardant. Through a tailored chemical alcoholysis and phosphorylation process, PUSR was converted into a novel \"three-in-one\" flame retardant (P₁D₁), integrating carbon, acid, and gas sources. When incorporated into soft polyvinyl chloride (PVC), P₁D₁ endowed the composite with a UL-94 V-0 rating and a limiting oxygen index of 24.2 %, significantly enhancing its flame retardancy. Remarkably, this improvement was achieved without compromising mechanical properties, as evidenced by a 42 % increase in elongation at break. This work not only establishes a promising path for PUSR valorization but also provides a sustainable solution for developing high-performance flame-retardant polymers.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":406,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Degradation and Stability","volume":"246 ","pages":"Article 111909"},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145941223","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Novel biosurfactant assisted biodegradation of polystyrene by Actinomycetes and its chemical understanding","authors":"Amrapali Sakpal ,&nbsp;Nazrul Haq ,&nbsp;Santanu Dasgupta ,&nbsp;Fars Alanazi ,&nbsp;Ibrahim A. Alsarra ,&nbsp;Mahboob Alam ,&nbsp;Syed G. Dastager","doi":"10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2026.111946","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2026.111946","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The current study highlights the effective biodegradation of polystyrene by two actinobacterial strains, <em>Glutamicibacter</em> sp. K-1 and <em>Rhodococcus</em> sp. BG-30. FT-IR, Raman spectroscopy, and GPC data showed the degradation pattern of polystyrene. Additionally, GC-MS analysis showed that strain K-1 produced a variety of degradation by-products, including alkanes, 2,4-Di-ter-butyl phenol, 2-propenoic acid, tridecyl ester, and dibutyl phthalate, while strain BG-30 produced a greater amount of alkenes, phthalic acid, and isobutyl octyl esters. GPC detected a drop in polystyrene's average molecular weight (Mn), which suggests chain scission of the polymer. Changes in polystyrene's roughness and other morphological properties were shown by AFM and FE-SEM. The effects of a conventional rhamnolipid and a novel thermostable biosurfactant fatty alkene (0.1 % each) on the breakdown of polystyrene were examined. Strain K-1 and BG-30 resulted in increasing the degradation of polystyrene to 12 % (w/w) and 16 % (w/w), respectively in the presence of fatty alkene biosurfactant, there was 10 % (w/w) and 8 % (w/w), degradation in presence of rhamnolipid. To the best of our knowledge, degradation of polystyrene by <em>Glutamicibacter</em> sp. has been reported as a newly identified strain and use of a novel biosurfactant together revealed their potential in biodegradation of plastic to mitigate the plastic pollution using microbial resources.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":406,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Degradation and Stability","volume":"246 ","pages":"Article 111946"},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146035628","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Surface-modified piperazine pyrophosphate: Migration resistance and high-efficiency flame retardancy in polypropylene","authors":"Mingliang Wang ,&nbsp;Jiaqi Gao ,&nbsp;Xintai Chen ,&nbsp;Junzhao Su ,&nbsp;Xuhuang Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2026.111936","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2026.111936","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Piperazine pyrophosphate (PAPP), a prominent representative of intumescent flame retardants (IFR), has garnered significant attention due to its high efficiency, halogen-free, and environmentally friendly properties. Nevertheless, PAPP is highly hydrophilic, which predisposes it to powder agglomeration, exudation, and migration within the polymer matrix. This study proposes an innovative surface treatment strategy to enhance the dispersibility and anti-exudation property of PAPP in polypropylene (PP) by forming a hydrophobic cross-linked layer of hydrogen-containing silicone oil (PMHS) and vinyl silicone oil (VSO) on the surface of PAPP. The experimental results showed that the water contact angle of PAPP modified with a hydrophobic cross-linked surface layer (i.e., PHV@PAPP) increased from 0° to 147° The results of migration test under boiling conditions of PP/PHV@PAPP showed that the introduction of PHV@PAPP reduced the precipitation rate of PP/PAPP from 2.29% to 0.17%, and the water absorption rate decreased from 5.75% to 1.41%. The flame-retardant performance of PP/PHV@PAPP showed significant enhancement compared to PP/PAPP, achieving UL-94 V-0 classification with merely 21 wt% flame retardant loading. Additionally, the peak heat release rate (PHRR) decreased from 66 kW·m⁻² to 39 kW·m⁻², and the time to peak heat release rate (T_PHRR) increased from 240 s to 550 s. Moreover, the total smoke production (TSP) and peak smoke production rate (PSPR) were decreased. The analysis of the carbon layer after combustion shows that the density of the PP/PHV@PAPP carbon layer is greater than that of the PP/PAPP carbon layer, indicating that the modified PAPP can effectively inhibit the heat and mass transfer during combustion.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":406,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Degradation and Stability","volume":"246 ","pages":"Article 111936"},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145975015","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A dynamically crosslinked biomass film featuring high flame retardancy, excellent thermal stability, closed-loop recyclability, and biodegradability","authors":"Hongshan Li ,&nbsp;Xu Zhang ,&nbsp;Kelu Ni ,&nbsp;Tongda Liu ,&nbsp;Tenghua Huang ,&nbsp;Hongxing Yang ,&nbsp;Xin Ran ,&nbsp;Guanben Du ,&nbsp;Long Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2026.111926","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2026.111926","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The widespread use of petroleum-based plastics depletes finite fossil resources, exacerbates ecological degradation, and poses persistent environmental threats. Furthermore, these materials are flammable and emit toxic gases upon combustion, creating significant safety risks. Thus, developing recyclable, flame-retardant polymers is a pressing research challenge. Herein, a tough film was prepared from a binary aqueous solution of the natural polymer sodium alginate and tetrahydroxydiborane. The C–O–B dynamic bonds in the polymer film contribute significantly to the enhanced mechanical properties of the material, while boron simultaneously acts as a flame retardant, improving the overall flame retardancy. The optimized film demonstrated outstanding mechanical performance and flame retardancy, exhibiting a tensile strength of 88.38 MPa, a Young’s modulus of 3.2 GPa, a toughness of 3.17 MJ·m^-3, a limiting oxygen index of 42%, and a V-0 flame retardancy rating. Moreover, the material maintained its excellent mechanical and flame-retardant properties after simple recycling and reprocessing, enabling the reuse of waste films. Its biodegradability further enhances the overall sustainability. This study provides a viable strategy for developing sustainable natural polymers as environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional petroleum-based polymers.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":406,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Degradation and Stability","volume":"246 ","pages":"Article 111926"},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145908895","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Synergistic thermal shielding and corrosion protection via Al2O3@HAP-reinforced polypropylene","authors":"Salman Khalid ,&nbsp;Mohammad Tabish ,&nbsp;Yifang Hua ,&nbsp;Muhammad Mubeen ,&nbsp;Xinyu Chen ,&nbsp;Libo Li ,&nbsp;H.M. Ahsen Ilyas ,&nbsp;Jun Sun ,&nbsp;Xiaoyu Gu ,&nbsp;Ghulam Yasin ,&nbsp;Sheng Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2026.111958","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2026.111958","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Achieving simultaneous flame retardancy and anti-corrosion properties in advanced polypropylene (PP) composites and coatings presents a significant challenge. In this work, porous alumina microspheres (Al₂O₃) were prepared via a hydrothermal method and subsequently calcined at 600°C for 3 hours (h). Al₂O₃ was then hybridized with hydroxyapatite (HAP) nanosheets through sonication followed by simple stirring at ambient temperature for 24 h to obtain the Al₂O₃@HAP nanohybrid. The synthesized Al₂O₃ and Al₂O₃@HAP, together with melamine polyphosphate (MPP) and piperazine pyrophosphate (PAPP), were incorporated into PP as fillers to enhance flame-retardant properties. An MPP/PAPP intumescent flame-retardant (IFR) system was employed due to its high char-forming efficiency and environmentally friendly characteristics, offering a promising alternative to halogenated flame-retardants. The PP/12%IFR/3%Al₂O₃@HAP composite exhibited excellent flame retardancy, as demonstrated by a high limiting oxygen index (LOI) of 28.2%, a V-0 rating in the vertical burning test (UL-94), and substantial reductions in peak heat release rate (pHRR, 86%), total heat release (THR, 43%), and total smoke production (TSP, 44%) compared with the control PP. Furthermore, the Al₂O₃@HAP nanohybrid effectively protected Zn-Al-Mg (ZAM) coated-steel against corrosion. The PP/PP-g-MAH/Al₂O₃@HAP nanocomposite coating maintained a high impedance (|Z|_{0.01 Hz}) of 5.46 × 10⁸ Ω cm² after 60 days of immersion in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution, indicating excellent long-term stability. Pull-off adhesion tests demonstrated that the incorporation of the fillers significantly enhanced the adhesion strength compared with the pristine PP/PP-g-MAH coating. Overall, this research presents an efficient strategy for fabricating advanced PP-based materials with simultaneously improved flame retardancy and corrosion resistance, offering substantial potential for diverse industrial applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":406,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Degradation and Stability","volume":"246 ","pages":"Article 111958"},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146074294","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Stability of recycled plastics in an aqueous alkaline cementitious matrix","authors":"Hasanthi H. Kosgahakumbura ,&nbsp;Ivan Kourtchev ,&nbsp;Susanne Charlesworth ,&nbsp;Damien L. Callahan ,&nbsp;Will P. Gates","doi":"10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2025.111915","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2025.111915","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The rising problem of plastic waste, coupled with a shortage of construction materials, has prompted research into the replacement of traditional aggregates with recycled plastic aggregates (rPA) in cementitious structures. However, the impact of the highly alkaline pore solution present in cement on the long-term stability and performance of rPA is still not fully understood. This research examined the alkaline stability of two types of commonly recycled plastics that increasingly serve as aggregate substitutes in concrete: polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) and high-density polyethylene (rHDPE) in two size ranges, when exposed to extremely alkaline conditions. The effects of exposure to simulated alkaline cement pore solutions on rPA stability were analysed by assessing alterations to polymer mass, surface features, functional groups, and crystallinity. Prolonged exposure (up to 75 days) to simulated cement pore solution significantly decreased the stability of rPA, while fine particle sizes underwent faster degradation, losing up to 40 % of weight. Recycled HDPE demonstrated greater alkali resistance than rPET, suggesting better suitability as an alternative aggregate in concrete, although factors like surface hydrophobicity should be considered. The amorphous regions of rPET surfaces proved more susceptible to hydroxyl reactions compared to crystalline regions, resulting in inferior stability of rPET compared to rHDPE, and therefore raises questions about the use of rPET as an alternative aggregate. Overall, this study elucidated the physical and chemical stability of recycled plastics in alkaline cementitious matrices, revealing how plastic type, intrinsic properties, particle size, and exposure duration govern their suitability as aggregate replacements.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":406,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Degradation and Stability","volume":"246 ","pages":"Article 111915"},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145974644","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Continuous glycolysis of waste PET via reactive extrusion and copolymerization with PTMG for enhanced toughness","authors":"Huihui Liu ,&nbsp;Yu Zhang ,&nbsp;Xinyi Xie ,&nbsp;Xuzhen Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2025.111916","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2025.111916","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In this paper, an efficient continuous glycolysis strategy for waste polyethylene terephthalate (PET) depolymerization was presented using a twin-screw extruder system with ethylene glycol (EG) and zinc acetate (Zn(OAc)₂) catalyst. Under optimized conditions (150 rpm, controlled EG/PET ratio, and reaction parameters), PET was rapidly converted into well-defined oligomers (<em>M</em>_n = 1265-6588 Da) within minutes. Structural characterization (FT-IR, NMR, MALDI-TOF MS) confirmed hydroxyl-terminated bis(2-hydroxyethyl terephthalate) oligomer (BHET oligomer) as the dominant product. Selected oligomers (<em>M</em>_n = 1265 Da) were copolymerized with poly(tetramethylene ether) glycol (PTMG) to synthesize poly(ethylene terephthalate)- ε-poly(tetramethylene ether) glycol copolyetherester (PETMG). By tuning the oligomer/PTMG ratio, the resulting PETMG₃₀ exhibited outstanding toughness (elongation at break: 1102%, impact strength: 105.6 kJ/m²). The developed “polymer-oligomer-polymer” approach significantly enhances processing efficiency and reduces reaction time compared to conventional methods, offering a sustainable pathway for high-value PET upcycling. This work advances circular economy practices by establishing a rapid, controllable recycling paradigm for plastic waste valorization.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":406,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Degradation and Stability","volume":"246 ","pages":"Article 111916"},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145974646","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Phytic acid-chelated Fe/Ni bimetallic zeolite framework for catalytic detoxification and flame retardancy","authors":"Lei Yu ,&nbsp;Guochao Yang ,&nbsp;Xuanye Wang ,&nbsp;Zhengqiang Fan ,&nbsp;Jian Fang ,&nbsp;Jing He ,&nbsp;Qiuhui Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2025.111913","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2025.111913","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The intrinsic flammability and dense smoke emission of rigid polyurethane foam (RPUF) critically limit its applications. Herein, a multifunctional hybrid coating was constructed via an in-situ strategy, wherein phytic acid (PA) chelates with Fe/Ni-loaded ZSM-5 zeolite (Fe-Ni-Z). The resulting composite, RPUF@PA/Fe-Ni-Z, achieved a UL-94 V-0 rating and a limiting oxygen index of 35.1%, with its char residual yield at 800 °C increasing by a remarkable 1434.47%. Cone calorimetry revealed a 45.06% reduction in peak heat release rate and a 58.33% decrease in peak smoke production rate. This performance is attributed to a synergistic integration of condensed- and gas-phase mechanisms: PA promotes the formation of a phosphorus-rich char layer, which is structurally enhanced by Fe-Ni-Z, while the bimetallic sites catalytically oxidize CO and other toxic volatiles via the Mars-van Krevelen mechanism. The formation of a highly graphitized, Fe-Ni-Z-reinforced char layer was confirmed by Raman spectroscopy. This facile approach demonstrates a new paradigm for designing advanced fire safety materials that combines physical barrier protection with active catalytic detoxification, offering significant potential for improving fire safety in applications such as construction, packaging, and furniture.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":406,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Degradation and Stability","volume":"245 ","pages":"Article 111913"},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145922081","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Multifunctional epoxy-based composites: Integrating graphene, zinc, and silicon dioxide for superior mechanical and corrosion performance","authors":"Reetik Singh,&nbsp;Sanat Kumar Mukherjee","doi":"10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2025.111904","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2025.111904","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study presents a novel nanocomposite coating based on SiO₂-decorated graphene nanosheets, developed to enhance the mechanical and anticorrosion durability of aerospace-grade aluminium alloy AA7075. This research investigates the synergistic effects of incorporating 1 wt% each of graphene, zinc, and silica nanoparticles into an epoxy matrix using high-shear dispersion. The resulting nanocomposites were applied as protective coatings on aluminium alloy and evaluated under aggressive environmental conditions. Corrosion resistance was assessed through electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and salt spray exposure. Mechanical properties, including adhesion, scratch resistance, and penetration depth, along with surface wettability via contact angle measurements, were also examined. EIS confirmed enhanced barrier performance, showing ⃒Z⃒_0.01 Hz and charge transfer resistance (R_ct) above 10⁸ Ω.cm² even after 72 h in 3.5 % NaCl solution. The graphene-zinc-SiO₂ coating also achieved a scratch hardness of 1.65 GPa, markedly higher than the 0.21 GPa of the pure epoxy.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":406,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Degradation and Stability","volume":"245 ","pages":"Article 111904"},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145922160","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}