A versatile approach for preparing self-recovering superhydrophobic coatings

• Published in: Chemical engineering journal (Lausanne, Switzerland : 1996) Switzerland : 1996), 2016-06, Vol.293, p.75-81
• Main Authors: Bai, Ningning, Li, Qing, Dong, Hongzhou, Tan, Cui, Cai, Peng, Xu, Lan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acid rain; Adhesion; Coatings; Contact angle; Morphology; Self-cleaning; Self-recovering; Structural damage; Superhydrophobic coating; UV-durability
• ISSN: 1385-8947; 1873-3212
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cej.2016.02.023

•Superhydrophobic coatings have self-recovering capability.•Superhydrophobic coatings can repel daily life liquids.•Superhydrophobic coatings can be quickly coated on various large-scale substrates.•Superhydrophobic coatings exhibit good UV-durability. Self-recovering superhydrophobic coatings (SHCs) have drawn much attention in recent years because of their unique self-recovering properties and potential industrial applications. In this study, self-recovering SHCs based on recovery of structural damage have been successfully fabricated by spraying the mixture of polymethylmethacrylate/zinc stearate/stearic acid. The SHCs display a static contact angle (CA) of 158°, a sliding angle (SA) of 1° and exhibit a rough structure as shown in the SEM images. By acid rain (pH≈3.5) scouring, the coatings maintain CA of 134° and high adhesion due to the broken morphology. Interestingly, the coatings restored superhydrophobicity after immersion in water for several minutes. Furthermore, the SHCs exhibit good long-term stability, water-durability and UV-durability, adapting to out-door environment. Above all, the coatings are environmental, low cost and can be quickly coated on various large-scale substrates, which will widen their practical applications.