Superhydrophobic Coating Polymer/Silica Nanocomposites: Part I Synthesis and Characterization as Eco-Friendly Coating

Special coatings with desirable properties like superhydrophobicity, play an essential role in development of coated substrate surfaces. Solar cells, outdoor items and packaging materials are some of important applications which can be targeted with superhydrophobic coatings. In addition, most of available marketing coatings based on non-aqueous solvents which restricted its applications without environmental hazards are available. Silicon dioxide nanoparticles were encapsulated in polystyrene through miniemulsion polymerization techniques as a cheap and easy applicable coating. Stabilized SiO2 nanocomposite was investigated with FTIR and X-rays diffractometer. Molar masses indices were determining through size exclusion chromatography technique. In addition, particle size and morphological structure of nanocomposites materials were studied with DLS and TEM. Our goal was preparation of polymer/nanocomposites with acceptable stability in aqueous medium as green applicable coating with high efficiency as cleaned, solid packaging surfaces.