Synthesis of calcium carbonate microcapsules as self-healing containers.

Contemporary studies of self-healing polymer composites are based on microcapsules synthesized using synthetic and toxic polymers, biopolymers, methods such as polymerization, electrospraying, and air atomization. Herein, we synthesized a healing agent, epoxy (EPX) encapsulated calcium carbonate (CC) microcapsules, which was used to prepare self-healing EPX composites as a protective coating for metals. The CC microcapsules were synthesized using two facile methods, namely, the soft-template method (STM) and the emulsion method (EM).

Fabrication of ZnO nanoarchitectured fluorine-free robust superhydrophobic and UV shielding polyester fabrics for umbrella canopies.

Mechanically robust, durable, fluorine-free superhydrophobic and UV shielding surfaces are fabricated on polyester umbrella canopy fabrics by self-assembly of stearic acid on zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoarchitectures on polyester fabrics. Drawbacks of conventional umbrella canopies including rain water penetration through the canopy during heavy rains, wet canopies taking too long to dry, and limited blockage of harmful UV radiation have been overcome with the surface modified canopy fabrics in the present study. Herein, in the typical synthesis, the polyester fabric is dipped in Zn(NO) : hexamethylenetetraamine (HMT), at 1 : 1 molar ratio solution and heated at 100 °C for 2 h to grow ZnO nanoarchitectures on the fabric surface.