International. To obtain a superhydrophobic surface with hierarchical micro/nanostructures, a group of Chinese scientists incorporated two types of SiO2 nanoparticles with different sizes in cross-linked silanized polyacrylate. The coatings developed showed three outstanding characteristics.
Silanized polyacrylate (PSA) was synthesized by free radical copolymerization of acrylate and vinyltrimethoxysilane monomers (VTMS). The silicone methoxyls of the VTMS units were then reticularized by a condensation reaction with hydroxy-terminated polydimethylsiloxane (HTPDMS) to form cross-linked silanized polyacrylate (CPSA).
The surface wetting property, surface morphology, mechanical robustness and anticorrosive performance of CPSA/SiO2 coatings were systematically studied. The results showed that the coatings could be conveniently sprayed onto substrates to create a water-repellent surface, and that they possessed good mechanical robustness and high corrosion resistance to NaCl solutions.
Source: https://www.sciencedirect.com
