Xiaoming Du¹, Jiahui Guo¹, Gaohan Liao¹, Tianfu Li^2,*, Haicheng Liang^1,*

CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua, Vol.87, No.3, 2026, DOI:10.32604/cmc.2026.078760 - 09 April 2026

Abstract Graphene has excellent mechanical, electrical and optical properties, which make it an ideal reinforcement phase for aluminum matrix composites. However, graphene is easy to agglomerate and has poor wettability with the aluminum matrix, resulting in unsatisfactory effects when added to the aluminum matrix. In this paper, the effects of transition metals (Cu, Ni, Co) on the bonding properties at the graphene/aluminum interface were systematically investigated using first-principles calculations. The computational results reveal significant differences in the effects of various metals and their crystal plane orientations on interface stability and bonding strength. Among Cu, Ni, Co… More >

Chan-Woo Kim^#, Sung-Jun Lee^#, Chang-Lae Kim^*

CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua, Vol.87, No.3, 2026, DOI:10.32604/cmc.2026.077143 - 09 April 2026

Abstract Epoxy resins are widely used as protective coatings due to their excellent adhesion and chemical resistance; however, their inherent brittleness and susceptibility to shear stress-induced crack propagation limit their tribological performance. This study investigates the stress distribution mechanisms governing the wear resistance of solvent-textured epoxy coatings using finite element analysis (FEA) and experimental validation. Three solvents with distinct volatilities—acetone, methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), and ethyl acetate (EA)—generated characteristic surface morphologies through Marangoni convection, with roughness ranging from Ra = 0.17 μm (EA) to 0.66 μm (acetone). X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy confirmed… More >

Guoguan Wu^1,2, Baipei Liu^1,3, Dawei Jiang^1,2,*, Haorui Yu¹, Jiayu Fu^1,2, Chengze Yu¹, Hanbin Wang¹, Miaojun Xu^1,2,*, Zijian Wu⁴, Bin Li^1,2,*

Journal of Polymer Materials, Vol.43, No.1, 2026, DOI:10.32604/jpm.2026.075384 - 03 April 2026

Abstract Epoxy resins are extensively employed in the construction, electronics, automotive, and aerospace industries owing to their outstanding mechanical strength, chemical resistance, and electrical insulation. However, their intrinsic flammability, poor wear resistance, and hydrophilicity significantly restrict broader applications. To address these challenges, a novel multifunctional coating (CEOS-DOPO-PDMS) has been designed and fabricated via an NP-GLIDE approach. The system integrates 9,10-dihydro-9-oxa-10-phosphaphenanthrene-10-oxide (DOPO) as a reactive phosphorus-based flame retardant, epoxy-terminated polydimethylsiloxane (EP-PDMS) as a hydrophobic segment, and cycloaliphatic epoxy-functionalized oligosiloxanes (CEOS) as a cross-linking co-reactant. The resulting CEOS-DOPO-PDMS hybrid precursor was blended with bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (DGEBA)… More > Graphic Abstract

T. Subash^1,*, M. Sekar², R. Selvabharathi³

Journal of Polymer Materials, Vol.43, No.1, 2026, DOI:10.32604/jpm.2026.075026 - 03 April 2026

Abstract The two distinct types of composite materials (5% to 10%) were developed using recycled polyvinyl alcohol fiber (RPA), silicon nitride fiber (SN), and reduced carbon nanoparticles (RCN). Enhanced microstructural properties and mechanical strength were attained through the application of the 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane coupling method. The combination of the resin-like properties of RPA-SN fiber resulted in the formation of robust outer strength and a high bonding structure. RPA-RCN composite materials with a weight percentage of 10% exhibited a tensile strength of 42 MPa. In contrast, RPA-SN-RCN composite materials containing 5% to 10% demonstrated enhanced tensile, bending, and… More >

Zhipeng Ran^*, Peishuang Xiao, Shuen Liang, Keping Chen, Xiuli Zhao^*

Journal of Polymer Materials, Vol.43, No.1, 2026, DOI:10.32604/jpm.2026.074431 - 03 April 2026

Abstract This study presents the development of high-performance, solvent-free polyurethane-urea (PU) elastomeric coatings engineered for rapid curing and precise sprayability. Utilizing polyoxytetramethylene glycol (PTMG) as the primary polyol and a static-mixing spraying technique, the formulations were systematically optimized. It was found that a soft-segment content of 64% yields optimal mechanical properties, achieving a remarkable tensile strength exceeding 30 MPa. Crucially, the incorporation of an ultra-low concentration (0.002 wt%) of dibutyltin dilaurate catalyst was sufficient to enhance curing completeness and mechanical performance while effectively eliminating moisture-induced foaming, a common challenge in solvent-free spray applications. The gel and… More >

Wei Kang^1,*, Juan Jin²

Chalcogenide Letters, Vol.23, No.3, 2026, DOI:10.32604/cl.2026.077859 - 03 April 2026

Abstract A sulfate–chloride electrolyte was used to deposit alloy layers on AISI 1018 coupons while co-introducing ZnS nanoparticles (5–20 g/L) to tune microstructure and durability under combined saline exposure and dry sliding. Cross-sectional SEM confirmed continuous deposits of ~24–26 μm, and XRD indicated γ-phase dominance with pronounced grain refinement: crystallite size decreased from 42 ± 3 nm (particle-free) to 28 ± 2 nm at 15 g/L. In 3.5 wt% NaCl, polarization data showed a progressive ennoblement of E_corr from −1.032 to −0.981 V (vs. SCE) together with a reduction of i_corr from 8.47 to 1.82 μA/cm² at 15… More >

Achille Désiré Betené Omgba^1,2,*, Cheryle Manfouo Tchoupmene¹, Benoit Ndiwe^1,2,*, Antonios N. Papadopoulos³, Remy Legrand Ndoumou Belinga¹, Julien Clerc Obam¹, Christel Cedrig Laris Nsi Ongo¹, Ioanna A. Papadopoulou⁴, Armel Brice Mvogo^1,2, Fabien Betené Ebanda^1,2, Atangana Ateba^1,2, Antonio Pizzi⁵

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.14, No.3, 2026, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2026.02025-0201 - 25 March 2026

Abstract The high hydrophilicity of pineapple leaf fibres (PALF) limits their use in cement- and gypsum-based composites exposed to moisture. This study evaluates, for the first time, the combined effect of palm kernel oil and beeswax on the hygroscopic resistance and mechanical stability of PALF. The fibres were functionalised with three formulations (oil, wax, and a 1:2 oil/wax blend) applied at different mass ratios (CR = 0.5–2). Treatments increased the average bundle diameter by up to +46% (238 μm) and reduced density down to 1.06 g/cm³. Hygroscopically, water absorption decreased from 202.4% (raw fibres) to 76.3% (CR… More > Graphic Abstract

Ghinwa Al Mimar¹, Natrah Kamaruzaman^1,*, Kamil Talib Alkhateeb²

Frontiers in Heat and Mass Transfer, Vol.23, No.6, pp. 1933-1956, 2025, DOI:10.32604/fhmt.2025.070118 - 31 December 2025

Abstract The pivotal role microchannels play in the thermal management of electronic components has, in recent decades, prompted extensive research into methods for enhancing their heat transfer performance. Among these methods, surface wettability modification was found to be highly effective owing to its significant influence on boiling dynamics and heat transfer mechanisms. In this study, we modified surface wettability using a nanocomposite coating composed of graphene nano plate (GNPs) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) and then examined how the modification affected the transfer of boiling heat in microchannels. The resultant heat transfer coefficients for hydrophilic and… More >

Mujahid Islam¹, Fateh Ali^1,*, Xinlong Feng^1,*, M. Zahid², Sana Naz Maqbool¹

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.145, No.3, pp. 3511-3561, 2025, DOI:10.32604/cmes.2025.073678 - 23 December 2025

Abstract Roll coating is a vital industrial process used in printing, packaging, and polymer film production, where maintaining a uniform coating is critical for product quality and efficiency. This work models non-isothermal Carreau fluid flow between a rotating roll and a stationary wall under fixed boundary constraints to evaluate how non-Newtonian and thermal effects influence coating performance. The governing equations are transformed into non-dimensional form and simplified using lubrication approximation theory. Approximate analytical solutions are obtained via the perturbation technique, while numerical results are computed using both the finite difference method and the BVP-Midrich technique. Furthermore, More >

R. M. Reddy^a, S. Chirag^b, T. Anu^c, A. R. Venkataramanan^d, S. Karthikeyan^e,*, D. Palaniswamy^f, E. Venugopal Goud^a, N. Dineshbabu^g, T. Thirugnanasambandham^h

Chalcogenide Letters, Vol.22, No.7, pp. 615-624, 2025, DOI:10.15251/CL.2025.227.615

Abstract Solar cells can transform light energy into electrical energy, possibly removing the need for fossil fuel energy resources. Reflection loss in solar cells is a factor contributing to diminished power conversion efficiency, which can be solved through using antireflective coatings on the cell surface. The present research primarily focuses on the development and application of antireflection coatings on the top surface of silicon solar cells. Sb₂Se₃ was deposited over multi-crystalline Si cells with different durations from 15 to 60 minutes. The influence of thin film Sb₂Se₃ coated cells was investigated through optical, current, voltage and thermal… More >