The exceptional hydrophobicity and antifouling properties
of polydimethylsiloxane
(PDMS) composites have attracted extensive interest as a result of
low surface energy. However, PDMS composites are hardly bound by common
primers, greatly limiting their practical applications. To address
this issue, an EPMS/VTMS (EV) primer synthesized by hydrolytic polycondensation
of 3-[(2,3)-epoxypropoxypropyl]methyldiethoxysilane (EPMS) and vinyltrimethoxysilane
(VTMS) in acidic conditions is proposed. Interestingly, the EV primer
exhibits exceptional reactivity, self-healing capabilities, and strong
adhesion to various substrates, including metals, plastics, and glass.
The bonding aluminum plates are easily debonded by immersion in water
without any residue left. Subsequently, the EV primer has been applied
to the interface between silicone leather and the PDMS composite.
Results show that the bonding strength for the silicone leather coated
with the EV/PDMS composite is 16 times higher than that of the silicone
leather modified with the PDMS composite. Meanwhile, the modified
silicone leather exhibits impressive antifouling performance, including
aqueous and oily stains, appreciable breathability, and excellent
wear resistance, even if suffering from 20 000 cycles of abrasion.
These excellent advantages for the modified silicone leather should
be attributable to the synergistic effect of the EV primer and the
PDMS composite. These findings pave the way to develop an ecofriendly
debonding primer for PDMS composites, greatly facilitating applications
of silicone leather.