Heterogeneity During the Formation of Waterborne Barrier Coating Revealed by Cryogenic Transmission Electron Microscopy
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: Imaging the film formation process of waterborne barrier coatings in situ with nanoscopic resolution is very challenging, which limits the understanding of the underlying mechanisms and rational design of the materials. Here this challenge is tackled using in situ cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryoTEM) in combination with electron tomography (cryoET), which allows 3D imaging of the process with <1 nm resolution. By monitoring the film formation process of poly(ethylene-co-methacrylic acid) (EMAA) ionomer dispersion, onion-like nano-aggregates are captured. These aggregates can be removed by weakening the interactions between EMAA particles via adding amino alcohol coalescing agents or increasing the EMAA neutralization degree, which improves the barrier property of the coating simultaneously, indicating the importance of these heterogeneities to the material performance. The study benefits a better understanding of the formation kinetics of waterborne coatings, and demonstrates cryoTEM as an efficient method for studying the film formation process in situ.
Source: Small Methods
Authors: Haiqin Du, Yifan Xu, Yifan Xu, Qiangqiang Yan, Zhongqi Liu, Ray Drumright, Chen Zheng, Zheng Zhang, Amy Song, Pilan Zhang, Shiwen Cui, Guangrong Zhou, Zhihong Nie, Yifei Xu, Yifei Xu
Language: English
Subfield: Structural Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
Award: G7971398148
OpenAlex ID: W4405725098