Strict environmental regulations on the use of fluorinated compounds open a new avenue for green approaches to synthesize high performance superhydrophobic coatings. However, the practical application of existing approaches is still limited due to complicated synthesis steps and poor stability of the coating against mechanical abrasion. We have designed a robust polymer silica coating by combining hydrophobic properties of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) with mechanically robust polyurethane (PU). The individual monomers are first linked into a copolymer using isocyanate and hydroxyl groups followed by dispersing the polymer in water. Antisolvent precipitation of the polymer produced particles with different sizes, which allowed us to achieve hierarchical structure of the coat on cotton. Variation in the monomer molecular weight had a direct effect on the water contact angle of the coating. To further enhance its hydrophobicity, we incorporated fumed silica in the formulation during synthesis. We systematically investigate the effects of monomer molecular weight, particle size and fumed silica content on the mechanical properties and hydrophobicity of the coat. In order to further improve the hydrophobicity of the coating, we have included fumed silica particles during the coating process. We notice a rise in water contact angle to 160<sup>o </sup>when 2.5 wt% fumed silica is used as a second coat over the formulation. Abrasion resistance studies of different types of formulations and sequence of coatings demonstrate the need for a balance point to maintain mechanical robustness of the coating without compromising its hydrophobicity. The versatility of our methodology suggests possible utilization of this environmentally friendly hydrophobic coatings on different substrates for diverse applications. <br/> <br/>

Fabrication of robust, superhydrophobic coatings from water-borne polymer silica networks

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.