Fabrication of superhydrophobic coatings based on nanoparticles and fluoropolyurethane

Hydrophobic nanosilica or nanofluoric particles were mixed with fluoropolyurethane resin to fabricate superhydrophobic coatings that have contact angles higher than 145 degrees. These coatings were prepared from the simple mixing of nanoparticles in fluoropolymer and were cured at room temperature. Different fractions of nanosilica, nanofluoric particles, and the combination of them were used to find the best formulations of superhydrophobic coatings. Contact angle, contact angle hysteresis, sliding angle, hardness, and UV durability tests were conducted to find the effectiveness of these coatings. The results showed that only fluoropolyurethane coatings containing nanosilica or the combination of it and fluoric particles were superhydrophobic. Also, the hardness of coatings was increased by raising nanoparticle concentrations. (c) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013