Functionalization Effect on Polymer Nanocomposite Coatings Based on TiO₂⁻SiO₂ Nanoparticles with Superhydrophilic...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Surface Chemistry

Background:

• Development of advanced nanocomposite materials is crucial for enhancing surface properties.
• Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) and silicon dioxide (SiO₂) are widely studied materials with unique properties.
• Functionalization of nanoparticles is key to tailoring material performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To create a novel binary nanocomposite system based on TiO₂-SiO₂.
• To functionalize TiO₂-SiO₂ nanoparticles with trimethylolpropane triacrylate (TMPTA).
• To evaluate the superhydrophilic and optical properties of the resulting nanocomposite coatings.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis and characterization of TiO₂-SiO₂ binary nanocomposite.
• Covalent functionalization of nanoparticles using TMPTA.
• Dispersion of functionalized nanoparticles in an acrylic acid polymer matrix.
• Analysis of coatings using X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), water contact angle measurements, and UV-Vis spectroscopy.

Main Results:

• Successful covalent functionalization of TiO₂-SiO₂ nanoparticles with TMPTA was confirmed.
• Nanocomposite coatings exhibited superhydrophilic behavior with water contact angles below 5°.
• High optical transmittance exceeding 95% was achieved for the coatings.
• Low concentrations of functionalized nanoparticles (0.1 wt % and 0.5 wt %) were effective.

Conclusions:

• The developed TiO₂-SiO₂-TMPTA nanocomposite system effectively imparts superhydrophilic properties to coatings.
• The synergistic interactions and morphology of the nanocomposite contribute to its enhanced performance.
• The coatings demonstrate excellent optical characteristics, suitable for various applications.