Nanostructured Surface Finishing and Coatings: Functional Properties and Applications

This review presents current literature on different nanocomposite coatings and surfacefinishing for textiles, and in particular this study has focused on smart materials, drug-delivery systems,industrial, antifouling and nano/ultrafiltration membrane coatings. Each of these nanostructuredcoatings shows interesting properties for different fields of application. In this review, particularattention is paid to the synthesis and the consequent physico-chemical characteristics of eachcoating and, therefore, to the different parameters that influence the substrate deposition process.Several techniques used in the characterization of these surface finishing coatings were also described.In this review the sol-gel method for preparing stimuli-responsive coatings as smart sensormaterials is described; polymers and nanoparticles sensitive to pH, temperature, phase, light andbiomolecules are also treated; nanomaterials based on phosphorus, borates, hydroxy carbonatesand silicones are used and described as flame-retardant coatings; organic/inorganic hybrid sol-gelcoatings for industrial applications are illustrated; carbon nanotubes, metallic oxides and polymersare employed for nano/ultrafiltration membranes and antifouling coatings. Research institutes andindustries have collaborated in the advancement of nanotechnology by optimizing conversion processesof conventional materials into coatings with new functionalities for intelligent applications.