One-Step Fabrication Process of Silica–Titania Superhydrophobic UV-Blocking Thin Coatings onto Polymeric Films
Developing a durable multifunctional superhydrophobic coating on polymeric films that can be industrially scalable is a challenge in the field of surface engineering. This article presents a novel method for a scalable technology using a simple single-step fabrication of a superhydrophobic coating o...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2024-12-01
|
| Series: | Biomimetics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2313-7673/9/12/756 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1846105667443621888 |
|---|---|
| author | Sharon Hayne Naftali Kanovsky Shlomo Margel |
| author_facet | Sharon Hayne Naftali Kanovsky Shlomo Margel |
| author_sort | Sharon Hayne |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Developing a durable multifunctional superhydrophobic coating on polymeric films that can be industrially scalable is a challenge in the field of surface engineering. This article presents a novel method for a scalable technology using a simple single-step fabrication of a superhydrophobic coating on polymeric films that exhibits excellent water-repelling and UV-blocking properties, along with impressive wear resistance and chemical robustness. A mixture of titanium precursors, tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS), hydrophobic silanes and silica nano/micro-particles is polymerized directly on a corona-treated polymeric film which reacts with the surface via siloxane chemistry. The mixture is then spread on polymeric films using a Mayer rod, which eliminates the need for expensive equipment or multistep processes. The incorporation of silica nanoparticles along with titanium precursor and TEOS results in the formation of a silica–titania network around the silica nanoparticles. This chemically binds them to the activated surface, forming a unique dual-scale surface morphology depending on the size of the silica nanoparticles used in the coating mixture. The coated films were shown to be superhydrophobic with a high water contact angle of over 180° and a rolling angle of 0°. This is due to the combination of dual-scale micro/nano roughness with fluorinated hydrocarbons that lowered the surface free energy. The coatings exhibited excellent chemical and mechanical durability, as well as UV-blocking capabilities. The results show that the coatings remain superhydrophobic even after a sandpaper abrasion test under a pressure of 2.5 kPa for a distance of 30 m. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e0096069c39f48f393ff8d08c332c92f |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2313-7673 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biomimetics |
| spelling | doaj-art-e0096069c39f48f393ff8d08c332c92f2024-12-27T14:13:28ZengMDPI AGBiomimetics2313-76732024-12-0191275610.3390/biomimetics9120756One-Step Fabrication Process of Silica–Titania Superhydrophobic UV-Blocking Thin Coatings onto Polymeric FilmsSharon Hayne0Naftali Kanovsky1Shlomo Margel2Department of Chemistry, Institute of Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan 5290002, IsraelDepartment of Chemistry, Institute of Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan 5290002, IsraelDepartment of Chemistry, Institute of Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan 5290002, IsraelDeveloping a durable multifunctional superhydrophobic coating on polymeric films that can be industrially scalable is a challenge in the field of surface engineering. This article presents a novel method for a scalable technology using a simple single-step fabrication of a superhydrophobic coating on polymeric films that exhibits excellent water-repelling and UV-blocking properties, along with impressive wear resistance and chemical robustness. A mixture of titanium precursors, tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS), hydrophobic silanes and silica nano/micro-particles is polymerized directly on a corona-treated polymeric film which reacts with the surface via siloxane chemistry. The mixture is then spread on polymeric films using a Mayer rod, which eliminates the need for expensive equipment or multistep processes. The incorporation of silica nanoparticles along with titanium precursor and TEOS results in the formation of a silica–titania network around the silica nanoparticles. This chemically binds them to the activated surface, forming a unique dual-scale surface morphology depending on the size of the silica nanoparticles used in the coating mixture. The coated films were shown to be superhydrophobic with a high water contact angle of over 180° and a rolling angle of 0°. This is due to the combination of dual-scale micro/nano roughness with fluorinated hydrocarbons that lowered the surface free energy. The coatings exhibited excellent chemical and mechanical durability, as well as UV-blocking capabilities. The results show that the coatings remain superhydrophobic even after a sandpaper abrasion test under a pressure of 2.5 kPa for a distance of 30 m.https://www.mdpi.com/2313-7673/9/12/756polymeric filmssurface modificationsilica nanoparticlesUV-resistant coatingsthin coatingsmechanical durability |
| spellingShingle | Sharon Hayne Naftali Kanovsky Shlomo Margel One-Step Fabrication Process of Silica–Titania Superhydrophobic UV-Blocking Thin Coatings onto Polymeric Films Biomimetics polymeric films surface modification silica nanoparticles UV-resistant coatings thin coatings mechanical durability |
| title | One-Step Fabrication Process of Silica–Titania Superhydrophobic UV-Blocking Thin Coatings onto Polymeric Films |
| title_full | One-Step Fabrication Process of Silica–Titania Superhydrophobic UV-Blocking Thin Coatings onto Polymeric Films |
| title_fullStr | One-Step Fabrication Process of Silica–Titania Superhydrophobic UV-Blocking Thin Coatings onto Polymeric Films |
| title_full_unstemmed | One-Step Fabrication Process of Silica–Titania Superhydrophobic UV-Blocking Thin Coatings onto Polymeric Films |
| title_short | One-Step Fabrication Process of Silica–Titania Superhydrophobic UV-Blocking Thin Coatings onto Polymeric Films |
| title_sort | one step fabrication process of silica titania superhydrophobic uv blocking thin coatings onto polymeric films |
| topic | polymeric films surface modification silica nanoparticles UV-resistant coatings thin coatings mechanical durability |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2313-7673/9/12/756 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT sharonhayne onestepfabricationprocessofsilicatitaniasuperhydrophobicuvblockingthincoatingsontopolymericfilms AT naftalikanovsky onestepfabricationprocessofsilicatitaniasuperhydrophobicuvblockingthincoatingsontopolymericfilms AT shlomomargel onestepfabricationprocessofsilicatitaniasuperhydrophobicuvblockingthincoatingsontopolymericfilms |