Functional UV Blocking and Superhydrophobic Coatings Based on Functionalized CeO 2 and Al 2 O 3 Nanoparticles in a Polyurethane Nanocomposite

• Published in: Polymers 2024-09, Vol.16 (19)
• Main Authors: Velasco-Soto, Miguel Angel, Vázquez-Velázquez, Arturo Román, Pérez-García, Sergio Alfonso, Bautista-Carrillo, Lilia Magdalena, Vorobiev, Pavel, Méndez-Reséndiz, Abraham, Licea-Jiménez, Liliana
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 2073-4360

Water repellency has significant potential in applications like self-cleaning coatings, anti-staining textiles, and electronics. This study introduces a novel nanocomposite system incorporating functionalized Al O and CeO nanoparticles within a polyurethane matrix to achieve hydrophobic and UV-blocking properties. The nanoparticles were functionalized using an octadecyl phosphonic acid solution and characterized by FTIR and XPS, confirming non-covalent functionalization. Spin-coated polyurethane coatings with functionalized and non-functionalized Al O , CeO and binary Al O -CeO nanoparticles were analyzed. The three-layered Al O -CeO -ODPA binary system achieved a contact angle of 166.4° and 85% transmittance in the visible range. Incorporating this binary functionalized system into a 0.4% / polyurethane solution resulted in a nanocomposite with 75% visible transmittance, 60% at 365 nm UV, and a 147.7° contact angle after three layers. These findings suggest that ODPA-functionalized nanoparticles, when combined with a polymer matrix, offer a promising approach to developing advanced hydrophobic and UV-protective coatings with potential applications across various industrial sectors.