ARS | Publication request: Polysaccharide Thin Films

Submitted to: American Chemical Society National Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: November 5, 2009
Publication Date: March 25, 2010
Citation: Bucur, C.B., Finkenstadt, V.L. 2010. Polysaccharide Thin Films – Buildup and Hydration. American Chemical Society National Meeting.

Technical Abstract: Plating, painting and the application of enamel are common anti-corrosion treatments by providing a barrier of resistant material between the damaging environment and the structural material. Coatings start failing rapidly if scratched or damaged because “pitting” occurs at high rates in cracks or paint defects. Thin polymer films are the subject of intensive study as cheap and efficient alternatives to traditional coating technology. They were built from bacterial bio-based exopolymers produced through fermentation using enzymes. QCM experiments suggest they adhere well to substrates and do not disperse during successive rinses. AFM imaging show a thickness of 45-65 nm. Some films ”heal” scratches by filling them in with polymer after a thirty second rinse in water. Hydration-dehydration ATR-FTIR experiments show polysaccharide films swell with water. Liquid uptake causes film rearrangement and may account for the healing phenomenon. Spectroscopic experiments suggest films fully hydrate in less than three minutes.