Title: Effect of different oxide fillers on superhydrophobicity of water-repellent organic-inorganic hybrid films

Authors: On-uma Nimittrakoolchai, Sitthisuntorn Supothina

Addresses: National Metal and Materials Technology Center, 114 Thailand Science Park Paholyothin Rd., Klong Luang, Pathumthani 12120, Thailand. ' National Metal and Materials Technology Center, 114 Thailand Science Park Paholyothin Rd., Klong Luang, Pathumthani 12120, Thailand

Abstract: Water-repellent polydimethylsiloxane-based film containing SiO₂ or TiO₂ filler was deposited onto glass substrate by dip coating method. Different surface roughness and chemistry was created by incorporating various types of filler having different particle size, composition and surface functionality, i.e., Aerosil^® SiO₂ (~15 nm, hydrophilic), Aeroperl^® SiO₂ (~30 μ, either hydrophilic or hydrophobic) and P25 TiO₂ (~30 nm, hydrophilic). Effect of filler characteristics on the film|s water-repellency was extensively discussed based on its dispersing ability and effective particle size in the PDMS solution, as well as on its photocatalytic effect (in case of the TiO₂).

Keywords: oxide fillers; superhydrophobicity; water repellent; hybrid films; surface roughness; atomic force microscopy; AFM; SiO2; TiO2; polydimethylsiloxane; dispersion; particle size; silicon dioxide; silica; titanium dioxide; titania.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNM.2010.029922

International Journal of Nanomanufacturing, 2010 Vol.5 No.1/2, pp.53 - 61

Published online: 03 Dec 2009 *

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