Photocurable Epoxy Acrylate Coatings Preparation by Dual Cationic and Radical Photocrosslinking

In this work, epoxy acrylate resin (EA) based on the industrial-grade bisphenol A-based epoxy resin (Ep6) and acrylic acid (AA) has been synthesized in order to develop hybrid resin comprising both epoxide group and reactive, terminal unsaturation. Obtained epoxy acrylate prepolymer was employed to formulate photocurable coating compositions containing, besides the EA binder, also cationic or radical photoinitiators. Hence, when cationic photoinitiators were applied, polyether-type polymer chains with pending acrylate groups were formed. In the case of free radical polymerization, epoxy acrylates certainly formed a polyacrylate backbone with pending epoxy groups. Owing to the presence of both epoxy and double carbon–carbon pendant groups, the reaction product exhibits photocrosslinking via two distinct mechanisms: (i) cationic ring-opening polymerization and (ii) free radical polymerization. Therefore, photopolymerization behavior of synthetized hybrid resin with various photoinitiators was determined via photo-differential scanning calorimetry (photo-DSC) and real-time infrared spectroscopy (RT-IR) methods, and properties of cured coatings were investigated. The performance of the following type of photoinitiators was tested in the cationic photopolymerization: diaryliodonium cations or triarylsulfonium cations, and the following type of photoinitiators were used to induce free radical photopolymerization: α-hydroxyketones, acylphosphine oxides, and their mixtures. Lastly, the basic physicomechanical properties of cured coatings, such as tack-free time, hardness, adhesion, gloss, and yellowness index, were evaluated. Some structural factors and parameters of cationic and radical photoinitiators and photopolymerization mechanisms affecting the epoxy acrylate hybrid coatings performance are discussed.     

Fabrication of TiO2 – KH550 – PEG Super-Hydrophilic Coating on Glass Surface without UV/Plasma Treatment for Self-Cleaning and Anti-Fogging Applications

In this study, we have developed a self-cleaning transparent coating on a glass substrate by dip coating a TiO₂ – KH550 – PEG mixed solution with super-hydrophilicity and good antifogging properties. The fabrication of the thin-film-coated glass is a one-step solution blending method that is performed by depositing only one layer of modified TiO₂ nanoparticles at room temperature. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to determine the structure and morphology of the nanoparticles and the thin-film-coated glass. The surface functional groups were investigated using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and the optical properties of the glass coating were measured using a UV/Vis spectrometer. The results revealed that the KH-500-modified TiO₂ film coating was in an anatase crystalline form. The hydrophilicity of the coated and uncoated glass substrates was observed by measuring their water contact angle (WCA) using a contact angle instrument. The maximum transparency of the coated glass measured in the visible region (380–780 nm) was approximately 70%, and it possessed excellent super-hydrophilic properties (WCA ~0°) at an annealing temperature of 350 °C without further need of UV or plasma treatment. These results demonstrate the super-hydrophilic coated glass surface has potential for use in self-cleaning and anti-fogging applications.     

Closed-Surface Multifunctional Antireflective Coating Made from SiO2 with TiO2 Nanocomposites

An SiO₂-TiO₂ closed-surface antireflective coating was fabricated by the one-dipping method. TiO₂ nanoparticles were mixed with a nanocomposited silica sol, which was composed of acid-catalyzed nanosilica networks and silica hollow nanospheres (HNs). The microstructure of the sol-gel was characterized by transmission electron microscopy. The silica HNs were approximately 40–50 nm in diameter with a shell thickness of approximately 8–10 nm. The branched-chain structure resulting from acidic hydrolysis grew on these silica HNs, and TiO₂ was distributed inside this network. The surface morphology of the coating was measured by field emission scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. After optimization, transmittance of up to 94.03% was obtained on photovoltaic (PV) glass with a single side coated by this antireflective coating, whose refractive index was around 1.30. The short-circuit current gain of PV module was around 2.14–2.32%, as shown by the current-voltage (IV) curve measurements and external quantum efficiency (EQE) tests. This thin film also exhibited high photocatalytic activity. Due to the lack of voids on its surface, the antireflective coating in this study possessed excellent long-term reliability and robustness in both high-moisture and high-temperature environments. Combined with its self-cleaning function, this antireflective coating has great potential to be implemented in windows and photovoltaic modules.     

A Systematic Study on Bio-Based Hybrid Aerogels Made of Tannin and Silica

Tannin-silica hybrid materials are expected to feature excellent mechanic-chemical stability, large surface areas, high porosity and possess, after carbothermal reduction, high thermal stability as well as high thermal conductivity. Typically, a commercially available tetraethoxysilane is used, but in this study, a more sustainable route was developed by using a glycol-based silica precursor, tetrakis(2-hydroxyethyl)orthosilicate (EGMS), which is highly water-soluble. In order to produce highly porous, homogeneous hybrid tannin-silica aerogels in a one-pot approach, a suitable crosslinker has to be used. It was found that an aldehyde-functionalized silane (triethoxysilylbutyraldehyde) enables the covalent bonding of tannin and silica. Solely by altering the processing parameters, distinctly different tannin-silica hybrid material properties could be achieved. In particular, the amount of crosslinker is a significant factor with respect to altering the materials’ properties, e.g., the specific surface area. Notably, 5 wt% of crosslinker presents an optimal percentage to obtain a sustainable tannin-silica hybrid system with high specific surface areas of roughly 800–900 m² g⁻¹ as well as a high mesopore volume. The synthesized tannin-silica hybrid aerogels permit the usage as green precursor for silicon carbide materials.     

Mechanical and Lubrication Properties of Double Network Ion Gels Obtained by a One-Step Process

Human joints support us to reduce the impact on our body and move them smoothly. As they are composed of gel-like structures, gel materials with soft and resilient properties are expected, as lubricants, to provide high efficiency and a long lifetime for mechanical parts. While double network gels including ionic liquids as swelling agents possess high mechanical strength and stable low friction under high temperature or vacuum, their fabrication process is complex and time-consuming. In this study, we applied one-pot synthesis to a double network ion gel (DNIG) to obtain a thin gel film by a simple coating method and examined its thermal, mechanical and tribological properties. The DNIG was obtained by one-pot synthesis (DNIG-1) combining polycondensation of tetraethoxysilane and radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate to form silica and poly(methyl methacrylate) as a 1st and 2nd network, respectively. Such obtained DNIG-1 was characterized and compared with DNIG obtained by a conventional two-step process (DNIG-2). Thermogravimetric analysis and the compressive stress–strain test showed high thermal stability and mechanical strength of DNIG-1. As friction at the glass/DNIG-1 interface showed high friction compared with that at glass/DNIG-2, various counterface materials were applied to examine their effect on the friction of DNIG-1. As SUS304/DNIG-1 showed much lower friction compared with glass/DNIG-1, the difference in the friction was presumably due to the different adsorption forces and compatibility between the materials.     

Film Growth Rates and Activation Energies for Core-Shell Nanoparticles Derived from a CVD Based Aerosol Process

Silica core-shell nanoparticles of about 60–120 nm with a closed outer layer of bismuth or molybdenum oxide of 1–10 nm were synthesized by an integrated chemical vapor synthesis/chemical vapor deposition process at atmospheric pressure. Film growth rates and activation energies were derived from transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images for a deposition process based on molybdenum hexacarbonyl and triphenyl bismuth as respective coating precursors. Respective activation energies of 123 ± 10 and 155 ± 10 kJ/mol are in good agreement with the literature and support a deposition mechanism based on surface-induced removal of the precursor ligands. Clean substrate surfaces are thus prerequisite for conformal coatings. Integrated aerosol processes are solvent-free and intrinsically clean. In contrast, commercial silica substrate particles were found to suffer from organic residues which hinder shell formation, and require an additional calcination step to clean the surface prior to coating. Dual layer core-shell structures with molybdenum oxide on bismuth oxide were synthesized with two coating reactors in series and showed similar film growth rates.     

Hybrid Lime–Pozzolan Geopolymer Systems: Microstructural,Mechanical and Durability Studies

This work studies the possibility of using geopolymer materials to enhance the mechanical and durability properties of hydrated lime–pozzolan mixtures, which gave rise to the so-called “hybrid systems”. Two different waste types were used as pozzolan in the lime–pozzolan system: rice husk ash (RHA) and spent fluid catalytic cracking (FCC). The geopolymer fabricated with FCC was activated with commercial reagents (NaOH and Na₂SiO₃), and also with alternative sources of silica to obtain a lower carbon footprint in these mixtures. The alternative silica sources were RHA and residual diatomaceous earth (RDE) from the beer industry. The geopolymer mixture substituted the lime–pozzolan mixture for 30% replacement in weight. The hybrid systems showed better mechanical strengths for the short and medium curing ages in relation to the lime–pozzolan mixtures. Thermogravimetric analyses were performed to characterise the types of products formed in these mixtures. In the durability studies, hybrid systems better performed in freeze–thaw cycles and obtained lower capillarity water absorption values.     

Modeling the Properties of Curcumin Derivatives in Relation to the Architecture of the Siloxane Host Matrices

Research in the field of natural dyes has constantly focused on methods of conditioning curcumin and diversifying their fields of use. In this study, hybrid materials were obtained from modified silica structures, as host matrices, in which curcumin dyes were embedded. The influence of the silica network structure on the optical properties and the antimicrobial activity of the hybrid materials was monitored. By modifying the ratio between phenyltriethoxysilane:diphenyldimethoxysilane (PTES:DPDMES), it was possible to evaluate the influence the organosilane network modifiers had on the morphostructural characteristics of nanocomposites. The nanosols were obtained by the sol–gel method, in acid catalysis. The nanocomposites obtained were deposited as films on a glass support and showed a transmittance value (T measured at 550 nm) of around 90% and reflectance of about 11%, comparable to the properties of the uncovered support. For the coatings deposited on PET (polyethylene terephthalate) films, these properties remained at average values of T550 = 85% and R550 = 11% without significantly modifying the optical properties of the support. The sequestration of the dye in silica networks reduced the antimicrobial activity of the nanocomposites obtained, by comparison to native dyes. Tests performed on Candida albicans fungi showed good results for the two curcumin derivatives embedded in silica networks (11–18 mm) by using the spot inoculation method; in comparison, the alcoholic dye solution has a spot diameter of 20–23 mm. In addition, hybrids with the CA derivative were the most effective (halo diameter of 17–18 mm) in inhibiting the growth of Gram-positive bacteria, compared to the curcumin derivative in alcoholic solution (halo diameter of 21 mm). The results of the study showed that the presence of 20–40% by weight DPDMES in the composition of nanosols is the optimal range for obtaining hybrid films that host curcumin derivatives, with potential uses in the field of optical films or bioactive coatings.     

New Mesoporous Silica Materials Loaded with Polyphenols: Caffeic Acid,Ferulic Acid and p-Coumaric Acid as Dietary Supplements for Oral Administration

In this study, two types of mesoporous silica with different pore structures and volumes were synthesized by the soft-templating method. The two types of mesoporous silica, type MCM-41 and MCM-48, were loaded with three polyphenols—caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid and trans-ferulic acid—in the same ratio of mesoporous silica:polyphenol (1:0.4 w/w). The materials obtained were characterized from a morphological and structural point of view through different analysis techniques. Through X-ray diffraction (XRD), the crystallization plane and the ordered structure of the mesoporous silica were observed. The difference between the two types of materials containing MCM-41 and MCM-48 was observed through the different morphologies of the silica particles through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and also through the Brunauer–Emmet–Teller (BET) analysis, that the surface areas and volumes of pores was different between the two types of mesoporous silica, and, after loading with polyphenols, the values were reduced. The characteristic bands of silica and of polyphenols were easily observed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and, through thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), the residual mass was determined and the estimated amount of polyphenol in the materials and the efficient loading of mesoporous silica with polyphenols could be determined. The in vitro study was performed in two types of simulated biological fluids with different pH—simulated gastric fluid (SGF) and simulated intestinal fluid (SIF). The obtained materials could be used in various biomedical applications as systems with controlled release of natural polyphenols and the most suitable application could be as food supplements especially when a mixture of such materials is used or when the polyphenols are co-loaded within the mesoporous silica.     

Precursor Mediated Synthesis of Nanostructured Silicas: From Precursor-Surfactant Ion Pairs to Structured Materials

The synthesis of nanostructured anionic-surfactant-templated mesoporous silica (AMS) recently appeared as a new strategy for the formation of nanostructured silica based materials. This method is based on the use of anionic surfactants together with a co-structure-directing agent (CSDA), mostly a silylated ammonium precursor. The presence of this CSDA is necessary in order to create ionic interactions between template and silica forming phases and to ensure sufficient affinity between the two phases. This synthetic strategy was for the first time applied in view of the synthesis of surface functionalized silica bearing ammonium groups and was then extended on the formation of materials functionalized with anionic carboxylate and bifunctional amine-carboxylate groups. In the field of silica hybrid materials, the “anionic templating” strategy has recently been applied for the synthesis of silica hybrid materials from cationic precursors. Starting from di- or oligosilylated imidazolium and ammonium precursors, only template directed hydrolysis-polycondensation reactions involving complementary anionic surfactants allowed accessing structured ionosilica hybrid materials. The mechanistic particularity of this approach resides in the formation of precursor-surfactant ion pairs in the hydrolysis-polycondensation mixture. This review gives a systematic overview over the various types of materials accessed from this cooperative ionic templating approach and highlights the high potential of this original strategy for the formation of nanostructured silica based materials which appears as a complementary strategy to conventional soft templating approaches.     

Effect of PCE on Properties of MMA-Based Repair Material for Concrete

Methyl methacrylate (MMA)-based repair material for concrete has the characteristics of low viscosity, excellent mechanical properties, and good durability. However, its application is limited due to its large shrinkage. Existing studies have shown that adding perchloroethylene can reduce the shrinkage. On this basis, other properties of modified MMA-based repair materials were tested and analyzed in the present study. The results revealed that the addition of perchloroethylene (PCE) can hinder the polymerization reaction of the system. When CaCO₃ with a mass fraction of 30% was added, the viscosity of the material was within the range of 450–500 mPa·s, and the shrinkage decreased to approximately 10%. The bending strength of MMA, and MMA modified by PCE, repair materials at 28 days could reach up to 28.38 MPa and 29.15 MPa, respectively. After the addition of HS-770 light stabilizer with a mass fraction of 0.4%, the retention ratios of the bending strength of materials with ratios of P0 and P3 could reach 91.11% and 89.94%, respectively, after 1440 h of ultraviolet radiation. The retention ratio of the bending strength of the material could reach more than 95% after immersion in different ionic solutions for 90 days.     

Morphology and Anti-Corrosive Performance of Cr(III) Passivated Zn–Fe Alloy Coating on NdFeB Substrate

In this study, low-iron Zn–Fe alloy coatings and pure Zn coatings, with or without trivalent chromium passivation treatment, were electrodeposited onto a sintered NdFeB magnet from a weak acid chloride bath. The surface morphology and structure of the coatings were then examined using the X-ray diffraction, a scanning electron microscope and 3D white-light interfering surface analysis. Meanwhile, the electrodeposition behavior and anti-corrosive properties of the coatings were investigated using cyclic voltammetry, potentiodynamic polarization, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and natural salt spray tests. The results indicate that a passivated Zn–Fe alloy coating with a 0.9 wt.% Fe content provided much better corrosion resistance than a pure Zn coating and could provide both anodic protection and physical barrier function in the NdFeB substrates. The Fe element in Zn–Fe alloy coating was predominantly in solid solution in η-phase and small amounts in elemental form, which was beneficial to acquire a compact coating and passivation film. Finally, the passivated Zn–Fe alloy coating withstood 210 h against a neutral 3.5 wt.% NaCl salt spray without any white rust, which was 3–4 times longer than the pure Zn coating.     

Cost-Effectively 3D-Printed Rigid and Versatile Interpenetrating Polymer Networks

Versatile acrylate–epoxy hybrid formulations are becoming widespread in photo/thermal dual-processing scenarios, especially in 3D printing applications. Usually, parts are printed in a stereolithography or digital light processing (DLP) 3D printer, after which a thermal treatment would bestow the final material with superior mechanical properties. We report the successful formulation of such a hybrid system, consisting of a commercial 3D printing acrylate resin modified by an epoxy–anhydride mixture. In the final polymeric network, we observed segregation of an epoxy-rich phase as nano-domains, similar to what was observed in a previous work. However, in the current work, we show the effectiveness of a coupling agent added to the formulation to mitigate this segregation for when such phase separation is undesired. The hybrid materials showed significant improvement of Young’s modulus over the neat acrylate. Once the flexible, partially-cured material was printed with a minimal number of layers, it could be molded into a complex form and thermally cured. Temporary shapes were readily programmable on this final material, with easy shape recovery under mild temperatures. Inspired by repairable 3D printed materials described recently, we manufactured a large object by printing its two halves, and then joined them covalently at the thermal cure stage with an apparently seamless union.     

Surface Pattern over a Thick Silica Film to Realize Passive Radiative Cooling

Passive radiative cooling, which cools an item without any electrical input, has drawn much attention in recent years. In many radiative coolers, silica is widely used due to its high emissivity in the mid-infrared region. However, the performance of a bare silica film is poor due to the occurrence of an emitting dip (about 30% emissivity) in the atmospheric transparent window (8–13 μm). In this work, we demonstrate that the emissivity of silica film can be improved by sculpturing structures on its surface. According to our simulation, over 90% emissivity can be achieved at 8–13 μm when periodical silica deep grating is applied on a plane silica film. With the high emissivity at the atmospheric transparent window and the extremely low absorption in the solar spectrum, the structure has excellent cooling performance (about 100 W/m²). The enhancement is because of the coupling between the incident light with the surface modes. Compared with most present radiative coolers, the proposed cooler is much easier to be fabricated. However, 1-D gratings are sensitive to incident polarization, which leads to a degradation in cooling performance. To solve this problem, we further propose another radiative cooler based on a silica cylinder array. The new cooler’s insensitivity to polarization angle and its average emissivity in the atmospheric transparent window is about 98%. Near-unit emissivity and their simple structures enable the two coolers to be applied in real cooling systems.     

Evaluation and Multi-Objective Optimization of Lightweight Mortars Parameters at Elevated Temperature via Box–Behnken Optimization Approach

In this research, the mechanical properties of lightweight mortars containing different percentages of additional powder materials has been investigated using response surface methodology (RSM). Box–Behnken design, one of the RSM techniques, was used to study the effects of silica fume content (5, 10, and 15%), vermiculite/cement (V/C) ratio (4, 6, and 8), and temperature (300, 600, and 900 °C) on the ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV), bending strength, and compressive strength of lightweight mortars. Design expert statistical software was accustomed to determining and evaluating the mix-design of materials in mortar mixtures and temperature effect on mortars. After preliminary experimental research of the relationships between independent and response variables, regression models were built. During the selection of the model parameters, F value, p-value, and R² values of the statistical models were taken into account by using the backward elimination technique. The results showed a high correlation between the variables and responses. Multi-objective optimization results showed that the critical temperatures for different levels of silica fume (5–10–15%) were obtained as 371.6 °C, 306.3 °C, and 436 °C, respectively, when the V/C ratio kept constant as 4. According to the results obtained at high desirability levels, it is found that the UPS values varied in the range of 2480–2737 m/s, flexural strength of 3.13–3.81 MPa, and compressive strength of 9.9–11.5 MPa at these critical temperatures. As a result of this research, RSM is highly recommended to evaluate mechanical properties where concrete includes some additional powder materials and was exposed to high temperature.     

Study of PVD AlCrN Coating for Reducing Carbide Cutting Tool Deterioration in the Machining of Titanium Alloys

The manufacture of medical and aerospace components made of titanium alloys and other difficult-to-cut materials requires the parallel development of high performance cutting tools coated with materials capable of enhanced tribological and resistance properties. In this matter, a thin nanocomposite film made out of AlCrN (aluminum–chromium–nitride) was studied in this research, showing experimental work in the deposition process and its characterization. A heat-treated monolayer coating, competitive with other coatings in the machining of titanium alloys, was analyzed. Different analysis and characterizations were performed on the manufactured coating by scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDXS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Furthermore, the mechanical behavior of the coating was evaluated through hardness test and tribology with pin-on-disk to quantify friction coefficient and wear rate. Finally, machinability tests using coated tungsten carbide cutting tools were executed in order to determine its performance through wear resistance, which is a key issue of cutting tools in high-end cutting at elevated temperatures. It was demonstrated that the specimen (with lower friction coefficient than previous research) is more efficient in machinability tests in Ti6Al4V alloys. Furthermore, the heat-treated monolayer coating presented better performance in comparison with a conventional monolayer of AlCrN coating.     

Coating of Carbon Fiber with Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxane (POSS) to Enhance Mechanical Properties and Durability of Carbon/Vinyl Ester Composites

Our continuing quest to improve the performance of polymer composites under moist and saltwater environments has gained momentum in recent years with the reinforcement of inorganic nanoparticles into the polymer. The key to mitigate degradation of composites under such environments is to maintain the integrity of the fiber/matrix (F/M) interface. In this study, the F/M interface of carbon/vinyl ester composites has been modified by coating the carbon fiber with polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS). POSS is a nanostructured inorganic-organic hybrid particle with a cubic structure having silicon atoms at the core and linked to oxygen atoms. The advantage of using POSS is that the silicon atoms can be linked to a substituent that can be almost any chemical group known in organic chemistry. Cubic silica cores are ‘hard particles’ and are about 0.53 nm in diameter. The peripheral organic unit is a sphere of about 1–3 nm in diameter. Further, cubic structure of POSS remains intact during the polymerization process and therefore with appropriate functional groups, if installed on the fiber surface, would provide a stable and strong F/M interface. Two POSS systems with two different functional groups; namely, octaisobutyl and trisilanolphenyl have been investigated. A set of chemical and mechanical procedures has been developed to coat carbon fibers with POSS, and to fabricate layered composites with vinyl ester resin. Interlaminar shear and low velocity impact tests have indicated around 17–38% improvement in mechanical properties with respect to control samples made without the POSS coating. Saltwater and hygrothermal tests at various environmental conditions have revealed that coating with POSS reduces water absorption by 20–30% and retains the composite properties.     

Fabrication of Ni–Cu–W Graded Coatings by Plasma Spray Deposition and Laser Remelting

In this study, Ni–Cu–W graded coatings are produced by atmospheric plasma spraying and subsequently remelted by laser. The surface morphology, hardness, compositional fluctuations and corrosion resistance of the Ni–Cu–W coating are investigated. The coatings after laser remelting are densified and become more homogenous with an excellent corrosion resistance and high hardness, which can be used to explore the new materials.     

Durability of Hydrophobic/Icephobic Coatings in Protection of Lightweight Concrete with Waste Aggregate

The aim of the research presented in this paper is to evaluate the feasibility of using hydrophobic agents based on organosilicon compounds for surface protection of lightweight concrete modified with waste polystyrene. The experimental part pertains to the physical and mechanical properties of polystyrene-modified lightweight concrete. The concrete samples were prepared with the following ingredients: CEM I 42.5 R cement, recycled polystyrene (0–2 mm), quartz sand (0–2 mm), coarse river aggregate (2–16 mm), and water. Silane and tetramethoxysilane were employed for surface hydrophobization. Concrete with 20% polystyrene exhibits high porosity (25.22%), which is related to an increase in absorptivity (14.75%) compared to the reference concrete. The hydrophobized concrete is characterized by the lowest surface free energy (SFE) value, which is 7 or 11 times lower than the value of reference concrete, depending on the agents. The test on the contact angle (CA) was performed before and after the frost-resistance test (F–T test). Lower SFE translates into lower adhesive properties, higher resistance of the material to the infiltration of water and corrosive compounds, e.g., salts, and higher resistance to freezing and thawing cycles. Silane and tetramethoxysilane coating raised frost resistance by 54–58% compared to the reference samples. This agent reduced absorptivity by 30%. Recycled polystyrene can be successfully used to produce lightweight concrete (LC) with high durability provided by hydrophobic/icephobic coatings.     

Method for High-Yield Hydrothermal Growth of Silica Shells on Nanoparticles

Coating processes are commonly used in materials science to protect a core or modify material properties. We describe a hydrothermal coating process using TEOS (tetraethyl orthosilicate), a widely used precursor for silica coatings, on three representative template materials (carbon nanotubes, silica, and polystyrene nanoparticles) with different properties and shapes. We compare the efficiency of previously published protocols for silica coatings at room temperature and atmospheric pressure with the hydrothermal process at 160 °C and 3 bar. The hydrothermal method achieves higher yields and thicker silica coatings with the same amount of precursor when compared to the conventional way, thus offering higher effectiveness. Furthermore, the hydrothermal coating process yields more homogeneous shells with a higher density, making hydrothermal coating the method of choice when mechanical integrity and low permeability of the coating are required.