Microencapsulation of a sunlight-curable silicon-based resin in the presence of polyvinylpyrrolidone

Purpose The purpose of this investigation is to develop a facile method to encapsulate a sunlight-curable silicone-based resin into a melamine–urea–formaldehyde (MUF) shell in the presence of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as an emulsifier. These microcapsules can be used in self-healing coating formulations. Design/methodology/approach MUF microcapsules containing a sunlight-curable core (methacryloxypropyl-terminated polydimethylsiloxane, MAT-PDMS) have been fabricated by means of in situ polymerisation of an oil-in-water emulsion using PVP as an efficient and environmentally advantageous stabiliser. The effects of agitation rate and PVP concentration on the microencapsulation process have been investigated using optical microscopy (OM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The chemical structure and thermal stability of the microcapsules have been studied using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The solvent resistance of the microcapsules has been determined as well. Findings It has been revealed that the pH of the reaction mixture remained almost constant during the reaction, which simplified the process. It has also been observed that the microencapsulation yield improved and the microcapsules’ surface morphology became smoother when a high PVP content was used. With an increase in stirring rate from 600 to 1,200 rpm, the surface roughness and the average particle size decreased. The mean diameter of the prepared microcapsules ranged from 32.1 to 327.1 µm depending on the synthesis conditions. It was demonstrated that the microcapsules had a high capacity for MAT-PDMS encapsulation (more than 88 Wt.%). The solvent stability of the microcapsules against different polar, semi-polar and non-polar solvents was also evaluated. Research limitations/implications This research is limited to the encapsulation of a hydrophobic and sunlight curable liquid (such as MAT-PDMS) by means of in situ polymerisation of amino resins. Practical implications The results can be used by researchers working on the fabrication of microcapsules for applications such as drugs, electrophoretic inks, electrophoretic displays, intumescent fire-retardant coatings and self-healing materials. Social implications In self-healing coatings, healing agents which can be cured by UV irradiation or sunlight are envisaged attractive because they are catalyst-free, environmentally friendly and relatively inexpensive. PVP is an environmentally friendly emulsifier. The prepared microcapsules can be used in self-healing coatings to help in reducing maintenance costs for buildings and steel structures. Originality/value The novel aspect of this work is the development of a sunlight-curable silicone-based resin that was encapsulated in a MUF shell in the presence of PVP. A simple method was used to fabricate MUF microcapsules containing MAT-PDMS without the need to control pH during the reaction. Conventional methods for the preparation of amino resin microcapsules require an intensive and precise pH control to obtain favourable microcapsules. MAT-PDMS can be cured by sunlight and is catalyst-free, environmentally friendly and relatively inexpensive.