Project's information
| Project's title | Development of a grade-I excellent research group on the fabrication and surface modification of specialized additives for functional coating systems |
| Project’s code | NCXS01.05/23-25 |
| Research hosting institution | Institute of Materials Science |
| Project leader’s name | Prof. Dr. Thai Hoang |
| Project duration | 01/01/2023 - 31/12/2025 |
| Project’s budget | 6,000 million VND |
| Classify | Grade A |
| Goal and objectives of the project | - General Objectives
+ To develop an excellent interdisciplinary research group (chemistry, materials science, biology, etc.) reaching international standards, with strong capability to publish in the fields of construction materials for interior and exterior applications, and protective materials against corrosion and biofouling for metals in tropical seawater.
+ To effectively apply and implement basic research results on multifunctional coating systems for both civil construction projects and marine structures.
+ To enhance research capacity and technological development in the fabrication of multifunctional coating systems, contributing to the training of highly qualified scientific and technological human resources for the country.
- Specific Objectives
+ To fabricate and modify specialized additives applicable for multifunctional coating systems.
+ To develop fabrication protocols for functional coating systems incorporating special inorganic additives. |
| Main results | - Scientific contributions:
+ Ag-intercalated/doped hydrotalcite (HT–Ag, HT–Ag/Zn) was successfully synthesized via green synthesis and in-situ co-precipitation methods. The green-synthesized HT–Ag particles exhibited a particle size of 100–150 nm, an Ag content of 9.3%, and a specific surface area of 107 m²/g. The green-synthesized HT–Ag/Zn particles showed a particle size of 100–200 nm, a total Ag+Zn content of 13%, and a specific surface area of 90 m²/g. The obtained intercalated/doped particles possessed uniform structures and demonstrated strong antibacterial activity against the tested bacterial strains, including ampicillin-resistant Escherichia coli (E66), Escherichia coli (E. coli), Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), and Pseudomonas stutzeri B27. The HT–Ag and HT–Ag/Zn intercalated particles exhibited superior antibacterial performance compared with Ag- or Ag/Zn-doped HT particles.
+ Ag-intercalated/doped Cu₂O nanoparticles were successfully synthesized via green synthesis and in-situ co-precipitation, exhibiting higher structural stability and synthesis efficiency compared with Cu₂O/Ag nanoparticles prepared by the indirect two-step method. The reduction in bandgap energy of the Cu₂O/Ag hybrid relative to pristine Cu₂O confirms the formation of a heterojunction structure between Cu₂O and Ag, thereby enhancing the photocatalytic and antibacterial performance of the Cu₂O/Ag material. The in-situ synthesized Cu₂O/Ag nanoparticles possessed particle sizes of 100–200 nm and an Ag content of 32.8%. These nanoparticles demonstrated greater structural stability and improved antibacterial activity compared with those synthesized via the indirect two-step method.
+ Successful surface modification of ZnO nanoparticles, Al₂O₃ nanoparticles, and yellow phosphorus slag was achieved using organic silane and titanate coupling agents. The modified ZnO nanoparticles exhibited particle sizes of 50–100 nm, a grafted organic content of 3%, and a contact angle of 92°. The modified Al₂O₃ nanoparticles showed particle sizes of 50–100 nm, a grafted organic content of 3.91%, and a contact angle of 74°. The particle size of modified yellow phosphorus slag ranged from 1–12 µm, with a grafted organic content of 1.15% and a contact angle of 95°.
+ Antifouling coatings containing hybrid nano- and micro-scale additives were successfully fabricated, exhibiting superior mechanical properties compared with the neat resin matrix due to the homogeneous dispersion of the particles. Cu₂O/Ag, HT–Ag, and HT–Ag/Zn nanoparticles significantly enhanced the antibacterial and antifouling performance of the coatings. Polysiloxane- and vinyl ester-based coatings incorporating these additives demonstrated antifouling durability exceeding 18 months. These results confirm the strong application potential of polysiloxane- and vinyl ester-based coatings containing Cu₂O/Ag, HT–Ag, and HT–Ag/Zn nanoparticles in antibacterial and antifouling applications.
+ Alkali-resistant coatings were successfully developed based on styrene–acrylic resin and organically modified yellow phosphorus slag. The coatings exhibited good mechanical properties and alkali resistance, making them suitable as primer coatings for construction works. Weather-resistant and heat-reflective coatings were also successfully fabricated using acrylic emulsion resin as the primary binder, combined with Cu₂O/Ag, HT–Ag, HT–Ag/Zn nanoparticles, and organically modified yellow phosphorus slag. These coatings demonstrated good mechanical strength, weather resistance, thermal insulation, and antibacterial performance, making them suitable as topcoats for both interior and exterior construction applications.
- Practical applications:
+ A technological process has been successfully established for the production of coatings based on acrylic emulsion resin and specialized additives, with a production scale of 100 kg per batch. In addition, a manufacturing process for antifouling coatings for offshore steel structures has been developed, incorporating polysiloxane resin and/or thermoplastic vinyl ester resin together with specialized additives, at a scale of 150 kg per batch. Both processes meet the required technical properties and quality criteria in accordance with the applicable Vietnamese Standards, namely TCVN 8652:2020 for emulsion-based paints and TCVN 8789:2011 for solvent-based paints.
+ The coatings have been tested in marine environments at Vung Oan, Ha Long, Quang Ninh. A three-layer coating system with polysiloxane and vinyl ester topcoats demonstrated antifouling performance lasting over 18 months, confirming their practical applicability for marine structural protection. |
| Novelty and actuality and scientific meaningfulness of the results | - The project successfully established a green synthesis process using in-situ co-precipitation. The obtained doped HT particles exhibited uniform and pure structures and strong antibacterial activity against E. coli drug-resistant E66, E. coli, S. aureus, and P. stutzeri B27. This represents a novel contribution, demonstrating that HT doped with Ag and HT doped with Ag/Zn show superior antibacterial performance compared to conventional HT-doped systems.
- The project successfully developed a green in-situ synthesis route for Cu2O/Ag nanoparticles, resulting in higher structural stability, significantly enhanced antibacterial activity, and improved particle formation efficiency compared to the conventional two-step indirect method. This is a new approach contributing to the advancement of nano-lai materials with high bioactive performance.
- The project optimized the additive content to 2 wt.%, achieving uniform dispersion of nano ZnO, nano Al2O3, and organically modified yellow phosphorus slag in the epoxy matrix. This significantly enhanced mechanical strength, adhesion, and corrosion protection of the steel substrate, expanding the applicability of hybrid additive systems in protective coatings.
- The project successfully developed coatings containing Cu2O/Ag, HT doped Ag, and HT doped Ag/Zn, based on polysiloxane and vinyl ester resins, which demonstrated superior antibacterial and antifouling performance, maintaining effectiveness for over 18 months under natural seawater conditions. This confirms the high practical applicability for marine protective coatings.
- The project successfully fabricated coatings based on acrylic-styrene resin combined with organically modified yellow phosphorus slag, exhibiting good mechanical properties and high alkali resistance, suitable as protective primer layers in construction, particularly in strongly alkaline environments such as concrete. This provides a cost-effective material solution with good commercialization potential.
- The project successfully developed coatings using acrylic emulsion resin combined with nano-lai materials (Cu2O/Ag, HT doped Ag, HT doped Ag/Zn) and organically modified yellow phosphorus slag. The coatings exhibited high weather durability, heat-reflective capability, and multi-strain antibacterial activity, making them suitable for construction projects with strict hygiene requirements, such as schools, hospitals, and civil buildings. |
| Products of the project | - Scientific papers in referred journals (list): |
| Recommendations | It is proposed that the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST) consider approving the completion of this task and provide support for further development of the research directions achieved from this project. This includes fostering the establishment of a strong research team, enhancing the capacity for international publications, expanding scientific collaborations both domestically and internationally, as well as promoting the practical application of the research results.. |
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