Effect of Modified Silica Materials on Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Substrates to Obtain Transparent and Hydrophobic Hybrid Coatings

In this research, we report a simple and inexpensive way to prepare transparent and hydrophobic hybrid coatings through deposition of different silica materials on polyvinyl chloride (PVC) substrates. The silica materials were prepared using an acid-catalyzed sol-gel method at room temperature (25 & PLUSMN; 2 & DEG;C), using alkoxysilanes: tetraethoxysilane (TEOS), as the silica source, and ethoxydimethylvinylsilane (DMVES), triethoxyoctylsilane (OTES), and trimethoxyhexadecylsilane (HDTMES), as modifier agents. The obtained materials were characterized (either as powders or as thin films) by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), UV/Vis spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), atomic force microscopy (AFM), spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE), and water contact-angle measurements. UV/Vis spectra showed that the PVC substrate coated with the silica material containing TEOS/DMVES/OTES had a transmittance of about 90% in the wavelength range of 650-780 nm. The water contact angles increased from 83 & DEG; for uncoated PVC substrate to ~94 & DEG; for PVC substrates coated with the sol-gel silica materials. These PVC films with hybrid silica coatings can be used as the materials for outdoor applications, such as energy-generating solar panel window blinds or PVC clear Windmaster outdoor blinds.

Automated summary

A simple and inexpensive method was reported for preparing transparent and hydrophobic hybrid coatings on PVC substrates by depositing different silica materials using sol-gel method. The hybrid silica coatings showed increased transparency and hydrophobicity on PVC substrates, making them suitable for outdoor applications. Characterization techniques including FTIR, UV/Vis spectroscopy, TEM, TGA, AFM, SE, and water contact-angle measurements were used to analyze the obtained materials.