The surface properties of coatings of diatomaceous earth (DE) with polystyrene as a binder have been studied with the addition of modified and unmodified DE. The DE was modified with a fluorosilane coupling agent (heptadecafluoro-1, 1, 2, 2-tetrahydrodecyltrimethoxysilane). The characterization of the coating was done with contact angle measurements of water droplet on surface and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The contact angle measurement revealed that the hydrophobicity of the DE was improved with silanation of DE with the fluorosilane-coupling agent, which is consistent with lowering of surface energy of DE due to the fluorosilane coupling agent. The surface properties of coatings made with variation in composition of silanated DE with polymer was also studied. The contact angle increased with increased weight fraction of DE and then reached a maximum value. The SEM micrographs taken from top surface and from coating substrate interface (bottom of coating) have shown that more DE particles goes to the top surface, which is likely the cause of the increased contact angle with increased amounts of silanated DE.

Hydrophobic coatings from fluoro-silanated diatomaceous earth

245th National Meeting (2013)

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