Fluorescent melamine-formaldehyde/polyamine coatings for microcapsules enabling their tracking in composites

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Chemistry

Background:

• Microcapsule tracking is crucial for understanding composite material behavior.
• Developing effective labeling methods for microcapsules is an ongoing challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop novel fluorescent melamine-formaldehyde (MF)/polyamine coatings for microcapsule labeling.
• To investigate the properties and applicability of these fluorescent coatings for tracking microcapsules in composites.

Main Methods:

• Fluorescent MF coatings were synthesized by polymerizing MF prepolymers with tri- and polyamines.
• Coating composition and characteristics were analyzed using FTIR, TGA, elemental analysis, optical microscopy, and fluorescence spectroscopy.
• Coated microcapsules were tracked in highly filled composites.

Main Results:

• MF/polyamine coatings exhibited intrinsic fluorescence without external dyes.
• MF/poly(ethylene imine) and MF/poly(vinyl amine) (PVAm) coatings showed distinct excitation and emission maxima.
• Successful tracking of MF/PVAm coated microcapsules in water-based plaster/paint composites was demonstrated.

Conclusions:

• MF/polyamine coatings are effective fluorescent labels for microcapsules.
• These coatings offer a promising approach for tracking microcapsules in various composite materials.