Fabrication of superhydrophobic surfaces with hierarchical structure and their corrosion resistance and self-cleaning properties

Mixed SiO2 nanoparticles with different ratios and contents were dispersed in hydrophobic fluorinated/silanized polymers. The mixture was bonded to the A3 steel substrate with an adhesive to obtain a superhydrophobic surface with excellent performance. The appearance, hardness, adhesion, and surface wettability of the obtained coatings with different ratios of mixed nanoparticles were characterized. Then, a series of superhydrophobic coatings with good hardness, adhesion, and crack-free surfaces were selected for further systematic investigation. The results showed that the coatings with contact angle around 151 degrees similar to x223C 157 degrees can be obtained when the hydrophobic polymer is combined with different proportions of mixed nanoparticles. The surface chemical composition of these coatings changed little while the surface structure changed significantly. The mixing ratios of nanoparticles had a significant effect on the surface morphology and sliding angle. Smaller nanoparticles had a greater impact on superhydrophobic coating performance than larger nanoparticles. Moreover, the mechanical robustness and corrosion resistance of the superhydrophobic coatings regularly changed with the proportions of smaller nanoparticles. Water droplets are easy to roll on the surface of the superhydrophobic coating with hierarchical rough structure, which makes it possesses an excellent self-cleaning performance.

Automated summary

This study investigated the dispersion of mixed SiO2 nanoparticles in hydrophobic fluorinated/silanized polymers and their application in obtaining superhydrophobic surfaces on A3 steel substrate. The coatings with different ratios of mixed nanoparticles were characterized for appearance, hardness, adhesion, and surface wettability. The results showed that the mixing ratios of nanoparticles significantly affected the surface morphology and performance of the coatings.