Amphiphilic Antifogging/Anti-Icing Coatings Containing POSS-PDMAEMA-b-PSBMA

Abstract

Highly transparent antifogging/anti-icing coatings were developed from amphiphilic block copolymers of polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane-poly[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate]-block-poly(sulfobetaine methacrylate) (POSS-PDMAEMA-b-PSBMA) with a small amount of ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) via UV-curing. The excellent antifogging properties of the prepared coatings were originated from the hygroscopicity of both PDMAEMA and PSBMA blocks in the semi-interpenetrating polymer network (SIPN) with polymerization of EGDMA and hydrophobic POSS clusters aggregated on the surface. PDMAEMA with a lower critical solution temperature and PSBMA with an upper critical solution temperature in the block copolymers facilitated dispersion and absorption of water molecules into the SIPN coatings, fulfilling the enhanced antifogging function. Analysis of differential scanning calorimetry further confirmed that there was bond water and nonfreezable bond water in the SIPN coatings. The amphiphilic SIPN coatings exhibited the anti-icing ability with a freezing delay time of more than 2 min at -15 °C, owing to the aggregation of hydrophobic POSS groups and the self-lubricating aqueous layer generated by nonfreezable bond water on the surface. The prepared transparent antifogging/anti-icing coatings could have novel potential applications in practice.

Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxane Hybrid Polymers: Well‐Defined Architectural Design and Potential Functional Applications

“…Attributed to the low surface energy of POSS cages and desirable self‐assembly behaviors, POSS‐hybrid polymers have been investigated as potential material candidates for many functional surface coatings, such as in antifog or anti‐icing uses, for its super‐hydrophobicity. For example, an amphiphilic semi‐interpenetrating polymer network (SIPN) coating containing BCPs of POSS‐PDMAEMA‐ b ‐PSBMA 52 with a cross‐linked polyethylene glycol dimethacrylate (PEGDMA) network has been produced . With the existence of PDMAEMA and PSBMA, a self‐lubricating aqueous layer formed by non‐freezable surface‐bonded water endows amphiphilic SIPN coatings with great anti‐icing performance, having a freezing delay time of more than 2 min at −15 °C.…”

Self-Assembly and Applications of Amphiphilic Hybrid POSS Copolymers

“…Li and coworkers developed highly transparent antifogging/anti-icing coatings with POSS–poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate)-block-poly(sulfobetaine methacrylate) (POSS-PDMAEMA-b-PSBMA) with a small amount of ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) ( Figure 16 ) [ 132 ]. The POSS clusters aggregated and dispersed well within the polymer matrix with the size of 10–80 nm.…”

“… Schematic illustration of the semi-interpenetrating polymer network (SIPN) coatings containing POSS–PDMAEMA- b -PSBMA with POSS aggregated on the surface and the strongly hydrophilic chains distributed beneath them. Reprinted with permission from [ 132 ]. Copyright (2017) American Chemical Society.…”

Preparation and Anti-Icing of Hydrophobic Polypyrrole Coatings on Wind Turbine Blade

“…The active techniques, such as thermal and mechanical methods, are used widely but have high-energy requirement and are expensive to operate [8,9]. However, the passive techniques such as anti-icing coatings are environmentally friendly and cheaper, which do not need any external energy to prevent ice accumulation [10,11]. Thus, developing anti-icing coating into wind turbine blades is the most reliable and cost-effective technique for icing effects [12,13].…”