Construction and properties of superhydrophobic materials using SiO 2 hybrid high fluorine epoxy polymers

Abstract

Superhydrophobic surfaces have been extensively studied for their self-cleaning properties. However, most of the constructed superhydrophobic surfaces have problems of changing the surface morphology and color of paper/cloth. An extremely dilute superhydrophobic solution was prepared by hybrid assembly of aminated nano SiO2 and high fluorine epoxy polymer P(FOEMA-r-GMA). The preparation of superhydrophobic cotton (SHC) and superhydrophobic book paper (SHBP) were studied through the optimal construction conditions of solution impregnation method. The optimal construction conditions for SHC were as follows: the concentration of fluorinated epoxy polymer was 3 mg/mL, the soaking time was 5 hours, the drying time was 8 hours, and the drying temperature was 120oC. The maximum WCA is 158 ° ± 3o, and the minimum WRA is 4o ± 3o. SHC surface had good hydrophobic effect, acid and alkali resistance, self-cleaning effect, and its surface morphology remains basically unchanged. SHC could be used for oil water separation with a maximum oil water separation rate of 98.4%. The optimal construction conditions for SHBP were: the concentration of fluorinated epoxy polymer was 3 mg/mL, the soaking time was 9 hours, the drying time was 6 hours, the maximum WCA was 155o ± 3o, and the minimum WRA was 6o ± 1o. The hydrophobicity of SHBP was significantly improved, it would selective adsorbing oil from the oil water mixture and slightly reduce its smoothness.