Coating Properties of Alkyd Resin, Epoxy Resins and Polyurethane Based Nanocomposites: A Review

The uniqueness of alkyd resin, epoxy resin, and polyurethane nanocomposites has brought prominent recognition to the field of heavy-duty coating materials. This is expected due to the collaborative features of nano-sized materials such as the high surface area to volume ratio, great functionality per-unit space, extremely small sizes with high density, and that of alkyd resin, epoxy resin, and polyurethane (biodegradability, great gloss retention, adaptability, flexibility, durability, good drying properties, and weathering resistance). The objective of this review was to analyze the extent and currency of research and the development of alkyd, epoxy, and polyurethane nanocomposites in coating applications. Some of the several types of modifications discussed in this review are the incorporation of varying types of nanoclay and metal nanoparticles materials into alkyd resins, the incorporation of carbon nanotubes, MGel-graphene oxide (GO)/gelatin (MGel), Ni (II) Complex-Zeolite and starch-modified nano-ZnO into epoxy resin and the incorporation of (Rb2Co(H2P2O7)2.2H2O), modified nanoparticles of ZnO, diminished graphene oxide (dGO) into polyurethane and their effects on coating applications. The various studied modifications resulted in nanocomposite end-products with much improved properties. However, there are several challenges to the development of nanocomposites that need urgent attention. Some of the challenges discussed are the difficulty involved in transforming fabricated nanocomposites from laboratory to commercialized scale, the capital-intensive nature of synthesizing large nanopowder, etc.