Superhydrophilic Smart Coating for Self-Cleaning Application on Glass Substrate

In general, superhydrophilic coating on glass substrate possesses water contact angle (WCA) below 10 degrees and contains high self-cleaning properties in outdoor environment as compared to noncoated glass substrate panels. In this study, the superhydrophilic coating behavior on glass substrate has been developed. The micro- and nanosized titanium dioxide (TiO2) particles have been utilized to improve the surface roughness, and the polypropylene glycol (PPG) has been utilized to increase the surface energy of glass substrates. The wettability of coating surface shows the coating possess water contact angle (WCA) as low as 5 degrees and suddenly reduce to 0 degrees after 10s. Superhydrophilic coated glass clearly shows excellent dirt repellent against dilute ketchup solution due to the absence of dirt streak on the glass surface. Meanwhile, the dirt streak is present on the bare glass surface indicating its weak self-cleaning property. The developed superhydrophilic coating on glass substrate was also found to have great antifog property compared to the bare glass substrate. Superhydrophilic surfaces have showed free tiny droplet even at 130 degrees C of hot boiling bath for 10min and completely dry after 1min. The superhydrophilic coating surfaces have demonstrated free water streak after impacting with harsh water spraying for 5min confirming that the superhydrophilic coating on glass substrate is antiwater streak.