Scalable and Durable Superhydrophobic Coating Using Shellac-Based Bioadhesive and Hierarchical Silica Nanoparticles

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Surface Chemistry

Background:

• Superhydrophobic coatings offer significant benefits but are often hindered by complexity, cost, and poor durability.
• Existing methods struggle with mechanical, thermal, and environmental stability, limiting widespread adoption.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a simple, scalable, eco-friendly, and durable superhydrophobic coating.
• To investigate the efficacy of bioadhesive shellac and octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS)-modified silica nanoparticles for creating robust superhydrophobic surfaces.

Main Methods:

• A spray-coating technique was employed using bioadhesive shellac and OTS-modified silica nanoparticles.
• The method focused on creating hierarchical micro/nanostructures for enhanced superhydrophobicity and adhesion.

Main Results:

• The developed coating achieved a contact angle of 162.1° and a sliding angle of 4°, demonstrating excellent superhydrophobicity.
• The superhydrophobic properties were retained after abrasion, heat exposure (150 °C), and acidic conditions (pH ~4.2).
• The coating adhered strongly to various substrates including nonwoven polypropylene, glass, plastic, metal, wood, cotton, and concrete.

Conclusions:

• The study successfully demonstrated a simple, scalable, and eco-friendly method for producing durable superhydrophobic surfaces.
• The biocompatible and robust nature of these coatings makes them suitable for critical applications in antifouling, food packaging, and biomedical fields.