UV and thermally stable polystyrene‐MWCNT superhydrophobic coatings

A facile method for ultraviolet (UV) and thermally stable polystyrene‐multiwalled carbon nanotubes (PS‐MWCNT) superhydrophobic coatings was demonstrated by a simple spray coating method. The superhydrophobicity was understood by an increase in micro/nano roughness with the addition of MWCNTs. Surface morphology of the coatings showed protrusion like structure. The wetting behavior of the coatings was studied as a function of temperature, and it is observed that the coatings were superhydrophobically stable up to 250 °C. A transformation of superhydrophobic to superhydrophilic state is achieved at 300 °C. The coatings remained superhydrophobically stable when it was subjected to UV‐irradiation and water immersion of 50 h. Thermogravimetric analysis showed a small shift (10°) towards higher temperature region with an addition of MWCNTs, suggesting the presence of weak interactions between PS and MWCNT, which is also supported by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy studies. Both hydrophilic and superhydrophobic coatings find potential applications in our daily life. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Recoverable and thermally stable superhydrophobic silica coating

A facile route to methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMS) based recoverable superhydrophobic silica coatings with dual-scale roughness obtained through the single step base catalyst sol–gel process. Superhydrophobic silica coatings have shown static water contact angle near about 170 ± 1° and dynamic water contact angle up to 2 ± 1°. Superhydrophobic-superhydrophilic switching feature also achieved by alternating heat treatment and bath surface modification with Trimethylchlorosilane (TMCS) at room temperature (26 °C). Furthermore, the superhydrophobic state could be transformed into superhydrophilic state by slow rate heat treatment. These studies present a very simple strategy for the fabrication of recoverable superhydrophobic surfaces.     

Facile preparation of superhydrophobic coatings by sol-gel processes

Different organic/inorganic compositions and deposition methods were used to prepare superhydrophobic surfaces using metal alkoxides and the sol-gel process. Both surface roughness and composition had to be adjusted in order to obtain very high contact angles and low contact angle hysteresis as a necessary requirement for superhydrophobicity. Multilayer samples with a fluorinated organic-inorganic top layer showed water contact angles of about 157 degrees with low hysteresis (2 degrees ). Water drops rolled easily off their surface at a tilt angle as low as 4 degrees .     

Long-term and thermally stable superhydrophobic surfaces of carbon nanofibers

Carbon nanofibers were prepared from polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) by a simple wetting-compatible method. The surfaces of the aligned carbon nanofibers show excellent thermal- and time-stable superhydrophobicity. The average water contact angle (CA) values are about 153.1+/-2.2 degrees at room temperature, with little difference coming from experimental error. In addition, the CA of the aligned carbon nanofibers surface maintains 139.1+/-3.2 degrees after 10 months of exposure to the ambient environment. Nanostructure on the surface of carbon nanofibers and the intrinsic thermal resistance of carbon contribute to this unique surface property.     

Megawatt UV laser photolysis of disiloxanes: thermally stable polyoxocarbosilane powders

Megawatt ArF laser irradiation of gaseous disiloxanes [(CH₃)_nH_3−nSi]₂O, n=1,2,3 results in chemical vapour deposition of nano-sized polyoxocarbosilane powders that have large surface area, possess all possible SiC_xH_yO_z (x+y+z=4) configurations, contain SiH bonds and possess unpaired electron in orbital of Si atoms. The powders show superior thermal stability by losing only several weight per cent upon heating to 750 °C.     

Transparent,thermally stable methyl siloxane hybrid materials using sol-gel synthesized vinyl-methyl oligosiloxane resin

Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology - Vinyl-methyl oligosiloxane resin was synthesized by a hydrolytic sol-gel reaction of vinyltriethoxysilane and dimethyldiethoxysilane. Hydrochloric acid...     

Bioinspired synthesis of superhydrophobic coatings

A superhydrophobic material prepared by precipitating calcium phosphate on TiO2 films under in vitro conditions is described. Crystalline calcium phosphate is very porous with octacalcium phosphate as the main phase. The films are made hydrophobic by the surface grafting of a perfluorophosphate surfactant (Zonyl FSE). The as-prepared coatings were strongly hydrophobic, with advancing contact angles exceeding 165 degrees and receding angles exceeding 150 degrees . The formation of the calcium phosphate layer is self-organizing, and the coating is easily functionalized. The material was characterized with dynamic contact angle measurements, SEM, XRD, and XPS. The strong water repellency is explained by the open porous morphology of the calcium phosphate coating together with the successful attachment of the hydrophobic function.     

Structure and properties of sol-gel coatings from methyltriethoxysilane and tetraethoxysilane

Acid catalyzed solutions of methyltriethoxysilane (MTES) and tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) were used to obtain bulk materials and silica coatings of about 2 m, after densification at 500°C. The structural evolution as a function of MTES content and heat treatment was studied.A higher content of MTES was found to enhance the maximum thickness of the coatings free of cracks. Critical thickness and shrinkage of the films were measured. MTES was also found to affect porosity and to play an important role in avoiding fractures in the films.     

Fabrication of highly transparent superhydrophobic coatings from hollow silica nanoparticles

We herein report a simple and effective method to fabricate excellent transparent superhydrophobic coatings. 3-Aminopropytriethoxysilane (APTS)-modified hollow silica nanoparticle sols were dip-coated on slide glasses, followed by thermal annealing and chemical vapor deposition with 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorooctyltrimethoxysilane (POTS). The largest water contact angle (WCA) of coating reached as high as 156° with a sliding angle (SA) of ≤2° and a maximum transmittance of 83.7%. The highest transmittance of coated slide glass reached as high as 92% with a WCA of 146° and an SA of ≤6°. A coating simultaneously showing both good transparency (90.2%) and superhydrophobicity (WCA: 150°, SA: 4°) was achieved through regulating the concentration of APTS and the withdrawing speed of dip-coating. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were used to observe the morphology and structure of nanoparticles and coating surfaces. Optical properties were characterized by a UV-visible spectrophotometer. Surface wettability was studied by a contact angle/interface system. The effects of APTS concentration and the withdrawing speed of dip-coating were also discussed on the basis of experimental observations.     

Fabrication of robust superhydrophobic coatings using PTFE‐MWCNT nanocomposite: Supercritical fluid processing

Fabrication of polymer‐carbon composite nanostructure with good dispersion of each other is critical for the desired application due to the nanostructure flaws, agglomeration, and poor absorption between the 2 materials. Fabrication of superhydrophobic surface coating composites of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) through supercritical fluid processing was explored in this study. Homogeneity of the composite was characterized by X‐ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy studies, which reveal that the PTFE and MWCNT are uniform in the composite. Microstructural surface evaluation of field‐emission scanning electron microscope and high‐resolution transmission electron microscope studies display that the coating composite possesses roughness structures and fibrillation of the superhydrophobic surface coating. Superhydrophobic character was evaluated on fiber‐reinforced plastic (FRP) sheets, which showed that the prepared coating composite surface showed self‐cleaning properties with a high water contact angle of 162.7°. The surface wettability was studied by increasing different temperatures (30°C to 300°C) in PTFE‐MWCNT composite, which reveals that the FRP sheets were thermally stable up to 200°C and afterward; they transformed from superhydrophobic to hydrophilic state at 250°C. The superhydrophobic surfaces are thermally stable in extreme environmental conditions, and this technique may be used and extendable for large‐scale applications.     

Functional coatings: The sol-gel approach

CEA's sol-gel laboratory is specialized in the development of innovative sol-gel optical coatings and has extended its application field to membrane materials and coatings for energy conversion, to electric coatings for microelectronics devices and to thin films for gas sensing. This article describes, by way of examples, the laboratory's research on sol-gel functional coatings, including nanomaterial synthesis, organic-inorganic hybrid-based solution preparation as well as deposition process development and prototyping.     

Technological significance of sol-gel process and process-induced variations in sol-gel materials and coatings

A significant aspect of sol-gel technology is the capability it provides to affect the substructure of materials by controlling the nature and the kinetics of chemical reactions. This capability allows us to produce novel materials, design unique molecular and pore morphologies, circumvent high-temperature reactions, and modify material properties. The modifications include strongly thermodynamic-dependent high-temperature properties such as sintering, crystallization, and viscosity in glass and ceramic materials. A particularly exciting area for investigation is the optical-electronic field, where a significant dependence of electro-optical properties and photosensitivity on process-induced molecular-structural variations occurs. Understanding the basis for the creation of structural variations in sol-gel processes should have significant impact on the technologies and systems that use these materials. In this article, some fundamental aspects of alkoxide-based, sol-gel processes and thermochemical bases for process-induced structural variates are discussed.     

Influence of flow on longevity of superhydrophobic coatings

Previous studies have demonstrated the capability of superhydrophobic surfaces to produce slip flow and drag reduction, which properties hold considerable promise for a broad range of applications. However, in order to implement such surfaces for practical utilizations, environmental factors such as water movement over the surface must be observed and understood. In this work, experiments were carried out to present a proof-of-concept study on the impact of flow on longevity of polystyrene fibrous coatings. The time-dependent hydrophobicity of a submerged coating in a pressure vessel was determined while exposing the coating to a rudimentary wall-jet flow. Rheological studies were also performed to determine the effect of the flow on drag reduction. The results show that the longevity of the surface deteriorates by increasing the flow rate. The flow appears to enhance the dissolution of air into water, which leads to a loss of drag reduction.     

Formation of superhydrophobic surfaces by the deposition of coatings from supercritical carbon dioxide

The deposition of uniform coatings of fluorinated polymers from solutions in supercritical carbon dioxide on a number of rough substrates allowed superhydrophobic (ultrahydrophobic) properties to be imparted to their surfaces, and, namely, to increase the value of the contact angle for water droplet to 150° and greater. The dynamics of changing of geometry of a drying droplet on a substrate is studied. A procedure is developed that permits the penetration of water into the substrate to be detected. Original Russian Text & M.O. Gallyamov, L.N. Nikitin, A.Yu. Nikolaev, A.N. Obraztsov, V.M. Bouznik, A.R. Khokhlov, 2007, published in Kolloidnyi Zhurnal, 2007, Vol. 69, No. 4, pp. 448–462.     

Polybenzimidazoles,new thermally stable polymeres

Wholly aromatic polybenzimidazoles were synthesized from aromatic tetraamines and difunctional aromatic acids and characterized as new thermally stable polymers. The melt polycondensation of aromatic tetraamines and the diphenyl esters of aromatic dicarboxylic acids was developed as a general procedure of wide applicability. Polybenzimidazoles containing mixed aromatic units in the chain backbone were prepared from 3,3′-diaminobenzidine, 1,2,4,5-tetraaminobenzene and a variety of aromatic diphenyl dicarboxylates. Phenyl 3,4-diaminobenzoate could also be polymerized by melt condensation to give poly-2,5(6)-benzimidazole. The polymers were characterized by a high degree of stability, showing great resistance to treatment with hydrolytic media and an ability to withstand continued exposure to elevated temperatures. Most of the polymers were infusible, but some had melting points above about 400°C. Many of the polymers exhibited no change in properties on being heated to 550°C, and showed a weight loss of less than 5% when heated under nitrogen for several hours to 600°C. The polymers were soluble in concentrated sulfuric acid and formic acid, producing stable solutions. Many of the polymers were soluble in dimethyl sulfoxide and some also in dimethylformamide. The inherent viscosities of a number of polymers in 0.5% dimethyl sulfoxide solution ranged from approximately 0.4 to 1.1. The higher polymers could be cast into stiff and tough films from formic acid and dimethyl sulfoxide solutions.     

Antiicing performance of superhydrophobic coatings on aluminum and stainless steel

The mechanisms determining the antiicing protection imparted by superhydrophobic coatings to the aluminum and steel surfaces of structural parts and control equipment of aircrafts are discussed. The results of testing at negative surface temperatures and high velocities of air—vapor flow demonstrated that application of superhydrophobic coatings produced by various methods provides a substantial mitigation of ice accretion compared to uncoated metal surfaces. The superhydrophobic coatings on aluminum surfaces completely prevent the formation of ice at moderate flow velocities of up to 40 m s^?1. At higher flow rates under conditions of ice formation on the test desk, the effect of periodic self-cleaning of the superhydrophobic surface was detected. Superhydrophobic coatings on stainless-steel parts of air pressure sensor also demonstrate explicit antiicing effect associated with the reduced heating power required to completely prevent ice formation on the sensor surface.     

Anticorrosive pigments for chemically and thermally resistant coatings

The present state in the field of organic coatings requires such an anticorrosive pigment, which is adapted in its properties to the binder concerned and will contribute to the overall protection properties of the pigmented coating film at max. The paper presents as an example of thermally and chemically stable pigments the compounds based on mixed metal oxides. Other pigments exhibiting prospective results for the coating applications comprise the pigments of lamellar shape, which in addition to their alkalizing properties contribute to increasing the barrier and simultaneously inhibition mechanism by protective action of the coating.     

A thermally stable polymer molecular composite

A molecular composite of rigid-rod poly(p-phenylene benzobisthiazole) and flexible-coil poly(benzimidazobenzophenantroline) has been prepared, characterized, and shown to be thermally stable to at least 300°C. These results suggest that stable miscible blends of rodlike and coil-like polymers can be prepared by controlling the glass transition temperature of the flexible-coil polymer. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.