{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,10]],"date-time":"2025-10-10T01:35:43Z","timestamp":1760060143566,"version":"build-2065373602"},"reference-count":17,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"15","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,3]],"date-time":"2025-08-03T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1754179200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"the European Commission through a Eurostars project entitled DRY electrolyte for mass application of COATings (DRYCOAT)","award":["291 (2022-2024)","2023DI00082"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["291 (2022-2024)","2023DI00082"]}]},{"name":"Ag\u00e8ncia de Gesti\u00f3 d\u2019Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca","award":["291 (2022-2024)","2023DI00082"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["291 (2022-2024)","2023DI00082"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Materials"],"abstract":"<jats:p>This study investigates the thermal stability and microstructural evolution of the solid electrolyte medium used in DLyte\u00ae dry electropolishing and dry anodizing processes. Samples were thermally aged between 30 \u00b0C and 45 \u00b0C to simulate Joule heating during industrial operation. Visual and SEM analyses revealed shape deformation and microcrack formation at temperatures above 40 \u00b0C, potentially reducing particle packing efficiency and electrolyte performance. Particle size distribution shifted from bimodal to trimodal upon aging, with an overall size reduction of up to 39.5% due to dehydration effects, impacting ionic transport properties. Weight-loss measurements indicated a diffusion-limited dehydration mechanism, stabilizing at 15\u201316% mass loss. Fourier transform infrared analysis confirmed water removal while maintaining the essential sulfonic acid groups responsible for ionic conductivity. In dry anodizing tests on titanium, aged electrolytes enhanced process efficiency, producing TiO2 films with improved optical properties\u2014color and brightness\u2014while preserving thickness and uniformity (~70 nm). The results highlight the need to carefully control thermal exposure to maintain electrolyte integrity and ensure consistent process performance.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ma18153645","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,4]],"date-time":"2025-08-04T15:30:06Z","timestamp":1754321406000},"page":"3645","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Dehydration-Driven Changes in Solid Polymer Electrolytes: Implications for Titanium Anodizing Efficiency"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"18","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0003-2126-8890","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Andrea","family":"Valencia-Cadena","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Steros GPA Innovative S.L., C\/Maracaibo 1, 08030 Barcelona, Spain"},{"name":"Department of Materials Science and Physical Chemistry, Facultat de Qu\u00edmica, Universitat de Barcelona, C\/Mart\u00ed i Franqu\u00e8s 1, 08028 Barcelona, Spain"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0259-7026","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Maria Bel\u00e9n","family":"Garc\u00eda-Blanco","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"CIDETEC, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), P. Miram\u00f3n, 196, 20014 Donostia-San Sebasti\u00e1n, Spain"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0003-0588-6090","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Pablo","family":"Santamar\u00eda","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"CIDETEC, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), P. Miram\u00f3n, 196, 20014 Donostia-San Sebasti\u00e1n, Spain"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7440-0766","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Joan Josep","family":"Roa","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Steros GPA Innovative S.L., C\/Maracaibo 1, 08030 Barcelona, Spain"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,3]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"143260","DOI":"10.1016\/j.msea.2022.143260","article-title":"High-strength titanium alloys for aerospace engineering applications: A review on melting-forging process","volume":"845","author":"Zhao","year":"2022","journal-title":"Mat. Sci. Eng. 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