Preparation and hydrophobic behaviours of polystyrene composite coating

A polystyrene (PS)/paraffin wax composite coating with excellent hydrophobic property was prepared on stainless steel strainer using a simple, inexpensive immersion drying method. The thickness and bonding strength of the composite coating were measured. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to characterise the coating surface of the stainless steel strainer. The effects of the paraffin concentration in the PS composite coating and the drying temperature of the coating were studied. The contact angles for oil and water were investigated. The results indicated that the composite coating on stainless steel strainer obtained the best hydrophobic property under paraffin concentration 5 mg mL(-1) and drying temperature 50 degrees C. The water contact angle reached 154 +/- 1 degrees, and the coating of the stainless steel strainer also showed a distinct oleophilic characteristic, which could be used for oil-water separation.