Synthesis and characterization of nanocomposite superhydrofobic surfaces

Nanotechnology deals with understanding and controlling physical, chemical and biological interactions and production and development of functional materials, devices and systems.Superhydrophobic surface is one of the applications of nanotechnology and intensive researches have been done in this subject. A surface has water contact angle higher than 1500 is named as a superhydrophobic surface. To exhibit superhydrophobic feature, a surface should have both micron scale roughness and inherently should have been prepared by a hydrophobic material.In this study, polymer-nanoparticle superhydrophobic nanocomposite coatings were studied. Nanocomposite coatings were prepared by using slightly hydrophobic amorphous polystyrene and silica nanoparticles at varying mass percentages. Effects of drying temperature and mass percentage of silica on the roughness and chemical composition of the surface were investigated. Contact angle meter, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used for characterization of nanocomposites surfaces.Contact angle on the surface was measured by using DSA100 goniometer, and morphological properties of surface were analyzed with SEM and surface chemical composition was investigated with XPS.At the end of the study PS coatings which have 0,3 g silica and prepared drying temperature at 160 oC gave the best results. Accordingly, the highest contact angle was found 155,6o which is belonged to PS coating with 0,3g silica at 160 oC dring temperature.