Effects of coating composition and thickness on thermochromic performance and application in earplugs for swine fever
8 affiliations
- 1School of Digital Intelligence Design, Chengdu Technological University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- 2School of Materials and Environmental Engineering, Chengdu Technological University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- 3Sichuan Yibin Wuliangye Jingmei Printing Co., Ltd., Yibin, Sichuan, China
- 4School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Yibin Industry Polytechnic College, Yibin, Sichuan, China
- 5School of Mechanical Engineering, Chengdu Technological University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- 6School of Robotics, Chengdu Technological University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- 7Chengdu Wuyu Industrial Design Co., Ltd., Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- 8School of Architecture, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
Abstract
Thermochromic coatings have been widely investigated, with most studies focusing on novel microcapsule systems. However, the thermochromic performance of coatings under a spatially separated heat source, as well as the influence of coating parameters on thermochromic behavior, remains insufficiently explored. In this study, an earplug structure embedded with a thermochromic coating was prepared, and the effects of coating filler content, coating thickness, and dye concentration on thermochromic behavior were systematically investigated. A distinct color transition was successfully achieved even when the coating was positioned away from the heat source. Simulation results indicate that, under a 40 °C heat source, the effective color‑transition temperature of the coating within the earplug structure should be maintained at approximately 34 °C. The incorporation of HBN accelerates the transition process and narrows the color-transition temperature range, enabling complete color change at around 34 °C. In addition, the effective color-changing distance is extended from 2.2 cm to 3.7 cm; however, a high HBN content reduces the ΔE color difference. Increasing coating thickness prolongs the transition time and darkens both the initial and final colors, with a thickness of 30 μm yielding the maximum ΔE value. The addition of blue dye generates visually distinguishable pre-transition and post-transition states. Although increasing blue dye concentration decreases the ΔE value between pre-transition and post-transition colors, it increases the ΔE* value between the post-transition color and pig skin color. Under a 40 °C heat source, the thermochromic coating in the earplug rapidly changes from light purple to blue. These results suggest that thermochromic coatings hold potential for low-cost, visually intuitive earplugs for fever detection in swine, although further validation is required.
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BibTeX
@article{wan2026effects,
title = {{Effects of coating composition and thickness on thermochromic performance and application in earplugs for swine fever}},
author = {Libo Wan and Junxin Luo and Jun Chen and Jing Fan and Yuebu Jike and Yuhao Luo and Danping Wang and Taoli Xiao and Yijun Liao and Yanqing Jia and Xiaoxiao Li and Kuan Peng and Xin Gao and Cheng Liu and Xiaolin Hu and Xinhai Zhou},
journal = {PLOS One},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0358752},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0358752},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Effects of coating composition and thickness on thermochromic performance and application in earplugs for swine fever
AU - Libo Wan
AU - Junxin Luo
AU - Jun Chen
AU - Jing Fan
AU - Yuebu Jike
AU - Yuhao Luo
AU - Danping Wang
AU - Taoli Xiao
AU - Yijun Liao
AU - Yanqing Jia
AU - Xiaoxiao Li
AU - Kuan Peng
AU - Xin Gao
AU - Cheng Liu
AU - Xiaolin Hu
AU - Xinhai Zhou
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/22
JO - PLOS One
DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0358752
UR - https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0358752
AB - Thermochromic coatings have been widely investigated, with most studies focusing on novel microcapsule systems. However, the thermochromic performance of coatings under a spatially separated heat source, as well as the influence of coating parameters on thermochromic behavior, remains insufficiently explored. In this study, an earplug structure embedded with a thermochromic coating was prepared, and the effects of coating filler content, coating thickness, and dye concentration on thermochromic behavior were systematically investigated. A distinct color transition was successfully achieved even when the coating was positioned away from the heat source. Simulation results indicate that, under a 40 °C heat source, the effective color‑transition temperature of the coating within the earplug structure should be maintained at approximately 34 °C. The incorporation of HBN accelerates the transition process and narrows the color-transition temperature range, enabling complete color change at around 34 °C. In addition, the effective color-changing distance is extended from 2.2 cm to 3.7 cm; however, a high HBN content reduces the ΔE color difference. Increasing coating thickness prolongs the transition time and darkens both the initial and final colors, with a thickness of 30 μm yielding the maximum ΔE value. The addition of blue dye generates visually distinguishable pre-transition and post-transition states. Although increasing blue dye concentration decreases the ΔE value between pre-transition and post-transition colors, it increases the ΔE* value between the post-transition color and pig skin color. Under a 40 °C heat source, the thermochromic coating in the earplug rapidly changes from light purple to blue. These results suggest that thermochromic coatings hold potential for low-cost, visually intuitive earplugs for fever detection in swine, although further validation is required.
SN - 1932-6203
ER -