Fabrication of Durable Porous and Non-Porous Superhydrophobic LLDPE/SiO₂ Nanoparticles Coatings with Excellent Self-Cleaning Property

Abstract

In this current work, SiO2 nanoparticles embedded linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) superhydrophobic coatings on glass substrates were fabricated using dip-coating technique. Porosity of SiO2 nanoparticles coupled LLDPE superhydrophobic coatings was also varied using non-solvent (ethanol) by employing phase separation method. Surface morphology, water contact angle, self-cleaning and water-repellency of coatings were characterized. Furthermore, the stability of these coatings was also evaluated by conducting thermal, chemical and mechanical stability tests at perturbation conditions. Along with, comparative studies of porous and non-porous LLDPE/SiO2 coatings on their performances were presented in the current work. By creating porosity and/or embedding SiO2 nanoparticles in to LLDPE matrix, superhydrophobicity is achieved with water contact angle of 170° and sliding angle of 3.8°. Coatings exhibit the excellent self-cleaning property. Their superhydrophobic property is also maintained after annealing in temperature range from 40 to 120 °C. Water jet impact test reveals the excellent water repellent nature of coatings. Non-porous coatings exhibit more stability in pH range from 2 to 9 than porous coatings. By abrasion test with micro-fiber cloth and tape peeling tests, it is observed that porous coatings are more durable than non-porous coatings. The aforesaid coatings have great industrial applications.

Department(s)

Materials Science and Engineering

Comments

The authors are indebted to the Science and Engineering Research Board, Department of Science and Technology, Government of India (Grant No. YSS/2015/000036) for financial support.

Keywords and Phrases

Porous polymer; Self-cleaning; Superhydrophobic; Water-repellency

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

0257-8972

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2018 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 May 2018

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