Mechanical Properties of Polymer Materials and Coatings

Dear Colleagues,

There is an increasing interest in using polymer materials as coatings not only by industrial demand but also by academic sector.  Polymer materials have found use in nearly all fields of application mainly due to their protection purposes. The main research interest is to create novel functionalities of polymer materials by physical and chemical structuring at the micro and nanoscale. As protective materials are subjected to different stress-strain levels, wear and environments, therefore, the mechanical properties play a key performance indicator. Mechanical characteristics of polymeric materials and coatings are declared based on measurements and interpretations of the results of measurement of mechanical properties and in connection with sample preparation, test conditions and external deformation forces. However, different indicative values of these characteristics follow similar aspects. Currently, these are not only classical aspects of the functionality, efficiency and economy of coatings in their production and operation, especially aspects of quality and durability, but also modern aspects of safety and environment-friendliness of coatings in their various applications. Experimental concrete empirical relationships have their cognitive value, but for the effective solution of various technical problems, the initial creation of a general prediction model is required based on a theory that takes into account all relevant physical relationships, processes and phenomena. At the same time, within the framework of verification testing, this model has to confront the presented theoretical prediction with the reality of a wide range of measured data beyond the primary data used to construct this model. Scientific and research simulations, whether performed by analytical or statistical methods, replace the investigated system with a simulation system, and information on the formation and use of the investigated coating can be obtained much more quickly and easily, i.e. without real experiments. However, the most common problem of declaring reliable simulation results is not disregarding the already verified general prediction model, but disregarding recommended input data intervals and input conditions, which may not always be entirely satisfactory or fully sufficient on the part of the user. In these cases, the only solution is to make the validity of the model more accurate or extend it. Neural networks are demanded and used with a great interest for tasks of classification, approximation and prediction. The preceding will require the derivation of new computational methods and procedures specified for the physicomechanical as well as thermodynamic and chemical problems of coating polymeric functional substrates. A comprehensive theory of the mechanism of interaction between coating and substrate materials should be elaborated in advance, while respecting the topographic parameters of the surfaces to be coated. High adhesion parameters, high abrasion resistance and good mechanical equilibrium of both components should be achieved at different operating stresses in the user conditions. The mechanical quality of the coating interconnection should ensure a flexible balance in strength and elasticity parameters. These are research topics, which are suitable for the creation of physicomathematical algorithms for quickly implementable machine calculations usable in design, research and practice.

Dr. Marta Harničárová
Guest Editor

In particular, the topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

• Presentation of material innovations by substrate-coating combinations based on research into mechanical properties of polymer materials and coatings.
• Advances in mechanical properties of polymers and their coatings.
• Presentation of the forming of coatings using new technologies and equipment.
• Characterization of changes in mechanical properties of coatings due to wear in various applications.
• Influence of environmental conditions such as heat, humidity and UV irradiation on mechanical properties of polymer materials and coatings.
• Simulation of coating generation based on analysis of real technological processes applied under precisely specified conditions.
• Creation of predictive mathematical-physical models mainly based on identification of stress states of materials in order to optimize and control technological processes.
• Smart Coating Systems and Painting Technology by Industry 4.0, focusing on collecting data, interpreting data interactions, linking products, processes, and environments for “self-organization”, and addressing automated responses in accordance with client requirements and environments.

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• Mechanical Properties of Polymer Materials
• Performance Modelling
• Surface Topography and Properties
• Stress-Strain Behavior and Relaxation
• Adhesion Parameters
• Cross-Linking of Polymers