Heat Resistant and Robust Superhydrophobic Coatings Fabricated by Functionalized Nanoparticles

The technology of superhydrophobic ceramic coatings with self-cleaning and self-healing properties gained strong attention during recent years, especially for industrial applications. Impurities on treated materials are easier removed compared to untreated materials which leads to reduced maintenance costs and offers a green alternative to the usage of aggressive cleaning agents. In this regard, control over surface properties and chemical structure is mandatory for the development of new eco- and user-friendly materials. Although the potential of commercial products is immense and their market truly global, the wide range of possible application is limited by the low temperature and mechanical stability of employed coatings. In this work, a route for the preparation of a superhydrophobic coating with mechanical and thermal stability was fabricated on glass substrates by spin-, and spray coating method. The coating was formed in a solution containing various nanoparticles such as SiO₂, TiO₂ and ZrO₂and silicic acid, in which the ratio of silicic acid was varied to tune the roughness of the coating. For receiving superhydrophobicity, subsequent and in-situ functionalization with low surface energy material have been performed. After surface functionalization, robust thermally stable films with contact angle close to 180° was preserved even after temperature treatments up to 350 °C and mechanical tests.