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Hybrid sol–gel coatings are widely used as protective layers for aluminum alloys because of their barrier abilities. This study aims at explaining the barrier properties of a sol–gel coating based on alkyltrimethoxysilane and methacrylate resin by its film structure. This approach was examined by modifying one photopolymerization parameter, e.g., by varying the content of radical photoinitiator. By neutral salt spray test and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, the barrier properties are highlighted. The film structure is related to thermomechanical properties of films whose glass transition temperature and elastic modulus are measured by dynamic mechanical analysis and nanoindentation, respectively. On a finer scale, conversion of methacrylate functions calculated from Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy has given information on the chemical structure of films. The morphology of these coatings is studied by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy operating in tapping mode, and X-ray diffraction. Results revealed that formulations containing between 3 and 9 wt% of radical photoinitiator exhibit the maximal conversion of methacrylate functions and, at a microscopic scale, a homogeneous coating where the two organic and inorganic networks are well interpenetrated. This hybrid sol–gel microstructure corresponds to the highest glass transition temperature and the highest mechanical characteristics (elastic modulus, E and hardness, H) and the highest protection performance. This results in the best barrier properties, and thus the highest corrosion resistance.

Nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) is a natural fibrous material that can be readily processed into membranes. NFC membranes for fluid separation work in aqueous medium, thus in their swollen state. The present study is devoted to a critical investigation of porosity, pore volume, specific surface area, and pore size distribution of dry and wet NFC nanopapers, also known as membranes, with various established techniques, such as electron microscopy, helium pycnometry, mercury intrusion, gas adsorption (N2and Kr), and thermoporometry. Although these techniques can be successfully applied to inorganic materials (e.g., mesoporous silica), it is necessary to appraise them for organic and hydrophilic products such as NFC membranes. This is due to different phenomena occurring at the materials interfaces with the probing fluids. Mercury intrusion and gas adsorption are often used for the characterization of porosity-related properties; nevertheless, both techniques characterize materials in the dry state. In parallel, thermoporometry was employed to monitor the structure changes upon swelling, and a water permeance test was run to show the accessibility of the membranes to fluids. For the first time, the methods were systematically screened, and we highlighted the need of uniform sample treatments prior to the measurements (i.e., sample cutting and outgassing protocols) in order to harmonize results from the literature. The need for revising the applicability range of mercury intrusion and the inappropriateness of nitrogen adsorption were pointed out. We finally present a table for selecting the most appropriate method to determine a desired property and propose guidelines for results interpretation from which future users could profit.

The ability of triblock copolymers of MMA and S to improve a woodPS interface has been evaluated using the ADCB test. Two symmetric triblock copolymers were tested: an MMA centered triblock SMS and a styrene centered triblock MSM. The fracture toughness Gc of the interface has been evaluated as a function of the copolymer thickness. Gcwas improved with both copolymers but depended on copolymer composition. At low copolymer thickness, the MSM was the strongest compatibilizer, while the SMS was more efficient in the saturated regime. An indepth characterization of the interface indicated that a lack of affinity between the MSM and PS is responsible for the different behaviors observed.