Graphene-Reinforced Styrene-Acrylic Polymer Coatings: Structural, Adhesion, Wettability, and Thermal Properties for Civil Engineering
摘要
This study systematically investigates the multifunctional performance of graphene (Gr)-reinforced styrene acrylic polymer (SAP) nanocomposite coatings for construction applications. Solution-cast nanocomposites with 0.5-2 wt% Gr loading exhibit concentration-dependent property enhancements, achieving optimal mechanical performance at 1 wt% with 2.4 MPa adhesion strength and 75.4 Shore A hardness. The maximum impact resistance of 1880 g is attained at 1.5-2 wt% loading. Surface characterization reveals a transition to strong hydrophobicity with a 112.7° contact angle, resulting from combined topographical modification with roughness increasing from 4.92 to 9.23 μm and chemical alteration. Dielectric analysis demonstrates a distinctive V-shaped trend, showing a minimum of 0.066 kV/mm at 1 wt% corresponding to the percolation threshold, followed by recovery to 24.4 kV/mm at 2 wt% due to agglomeration-induced disruption of conductive pathways. Thermal conductivity measurements show a progressive enhancement from 0.22 W/m·K for pure SAP to 1.325 W/m·K for the 2 wt% composite, representing a sixfold improvement. While these results demonstrate graphene’s remarkable multifunctional capabilities, key limitations emerge, including sub-superhydrophobic performance, competing electrical and thermal property requirements, and the need for comprehensive environmental durability assessment. The study establishes fundamental structure-property relationships while identifying critical optimization parameters for developing application-specific coating formulations.