Research reveals the evolution mechanism of interface damage between organic coatings with different mechanical properties and cement-based substrates

Research focuses on the interface failure between coatings and cement-based substrates. In the field of architecture and home decoration, organic coatings are widely used for surface protection and decoration of cement-based substrates such as concrete and mortar. The interface bonding state between the coating and the substrate directly affects the protective life and appearance retention ability of the coating. A study published in Volume 547 of Construction and Building Materials analyzed the interface damage evolution process and failure mechanism of organic coatings and cement-based substrates with different mechanical properties using digital image correlation technology (DIC). According to the source information, this study was completed by Chao Xie, Zhuozhuo Si, Mingming Jing, Xiongkui Wang, and Haiting Pu, and the paper was published on November 14, 2026. The core issue of research concern is how the damage at the interface between the organic coating and the cement-based substrate under stress initiates, expands, and ultimately leads to failure when there are differences in the mechanical properties of the coating.

DIC technology is used for interface damage characterization

Digital Image Correlation (DIC) is a non-contact optical measurement method that can obtain strain field information by tracking changes in material surface speckle images.

. In this study, DIC was used to observe the deformation and damage evolution process near the interface between the coating and cement-based substrate, in order to identify the starting position of damage and its propagation path with load variation.

The source shows that the study compared organic coating systems with different mechanical properties and analyzed the relationship between the deformation ability of the coating itself and the interfacial bonding state.

. This approach has reference value for the design of architectural coatings, waterproof coatings, and concrete protection systems: coatings are not necessarily harder, and the deformation coordination between them and the substrate will affect the development speed of interface damage.

Significance for the polymer additive industry

Although this study focuses on the interfacial mechanical behavior of coatings and cement-based substrates, its conclusions have indirect implications for the application of polymer additives in building and home decoration materials.

. During outdoor service, architectural coatings and protective coatings need to simultaneously withstand factors such as substrate deformation, temperature changes, and ultraviolet radiation. Weathering stability is the key to maintaining the long-term performance of such coatings, and a reasonable combination of antioxidants and light stabilizers can help suppress the degradation of the coating during aging, thereby delaying the deterioration of the interface area. In building materials such as PVC profiles and pipes, weather stability is also a key focus of formula design. Antioxidants and light stabilizers help products maintain their mechanical properties and appearance during long-term outdoor exposure by inhibiting thermal oxidative aging and photo oxidative degradation. This study suggests that the damage evolution of material interfaces is closely related to the properties of the material itself. The selection of additive systems not only affects the durability of the substrate itself, but may also indirectly affect the bonding stability between the coating or overlay and the substrate.

Research boundary and unclear information

It should be pointed out that the source text only provides the paper title, publication information, and author information, and does not disclose specific coating types, mechanical performance parameters, experimental conditions, and quantitative conclusions.

. Therefore, this article does not make further inferences about the experimental details and specific data of this study. The direct guidance significance of this study for the polymer additive industry still needs to be judged based on the complete content of the paper and subsequent application verification.

Information source:DIC-based study on interfacial damage evolution and failure mechanisms between organic coatings with different mechanical properties and cementitious substrates， Organized by Herun Chemical.