Title: Preparation and application of biomimetic superhydrophobic silica and polyurethane composite coating

Authors: Cundong Wang; Haixia Wang; Huabing Yu

Addresses: School of Chemical Engineering and Environment, North University of China, Taiyuan, 030051, China ' School of Chemical Engineering and Environment, North University of China, Taiyuan, 030051, China ' School of Chemical Engineering and Environment, North University of China, Taiyuan, 030051, China

Abstract: A nanosilica (SiO₂)/polyurethane (PU) micro-nanocomposite coating with similar surface structure as a lotus leaf was prepared using a simple spraying process via a biomimetic method. In this process, SiO₂ and organosilicon-modified PU were used as raw materials, and ethyl acetate was used as a dispersing agent. The formation mechanism and structural characteristics of the coating were analysed. The coating surface was also characterised via scanning electron microscopy. The influence of the contents of SiO₂, PU, organosilicon on the coating surface structure and contact angle (CA) was studied and the coating was applied to the surface of different materials. The results showed that the coating surface had a similar micro-nanostructure as the lotus leaf surface. The mass ratio of SiO₂ and PU was between 4:5 and 3:5. When the content of organosilicon was greater than 15%, the water CA of the coating and sliding angles were 158° and 3°, respectively. The prepared SiO₂/PU micro-nanocomposite coating had superhydrophobic properties.

Keywords: biomimetics; superhydrophobic properties; composite coatings; coating surface; microstructure; nanostructure; lotus leaf; polyurethane coatings; nanosilica coatings; contact angle; sliding angles; nanotechnology; nanocomposites; organosilicon.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSURFSE.2015.072832

International Journal of Surface Science and Engineering, 2015 Vol.9 No.6, pp.510 - 519

Received: 12 Feb 2014
Accepted: 26 Oct 2014
Published online: 04 Nov 2015 *

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