{"id":2530,"date":"2015-05-29T08:00:22","date_gmt":"2015-05-29T13:00:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ulprospector.com\/knowledge\/?p=2530"},"modified":"2017-05-12T14:59:34","modified_gmt":"2017-05-12T20:59:34","slug":"pc-hydrophobic-coatings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ulprospector.ul.com\/2530\/pc-hydrophobic-coatings\/","title":{"rendered":"Hydrophobic Coatings Explained"},"content":{"rendered":"

A hydrophobic definition means “tending to repel or fail to mix with water.” Coatings that offer a hydrophobic <\/em><\/strong><\/a>(E<\/a><\/em><\/strong>U<\/a>)<\/em><\/strong> or superhydrophobic<\/em><\/strong> surface can impart multiple advantages to the coating surface and substrate they are applied to. Advantages may include decreased dirt retention, self-cleanability, improved moisture and corrosion resistance, as well as extended life expectancy of the coating and substrate. To fully explain and quantify hydrophobicity, it is necessary to define the relationship between contact angle<\/em><\/strong> and the hydrophobic\/hydrophilic<\/a> (EU<\/a>)<\/em><\/strong> character of a surface.<\/p>\n

F<\/span>igure 1 \u2013 Contact Angle for Hydrophobic Coating Surface and a Hydrophilic Coating Surface<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"hydro1\"
Hydrophobic Surface Contact Angle \u2265 120\u00b0<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"hydro2\"
Hydrophilic Surface Contact Angle \u2264 30\u00b0<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Figure 2 \u2013 Contact Angle and Superhydrophobicity<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Superhydrophobic
Super Hydrophobic Contact Angle \u2265 150\u00b0<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Accordingly, the surface characteristics can create different coatings, ranging from hydrophilic<\/em><\/strong> (water-loving) coatings to superhydrophobic coatings,<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0which are highly water-repellent. Several factors impact the contact angle of a water drop on the surface of a coating. These include the macro, micro, nano-surface profile, and the surface tension of the coating on which the water droplet is resting. Surface tension<\/em><\/strong> is the elastic tendency of liquids<\/a> that make them acquire the least surface area<\/a> possible.<\/p>\n

As Table 1 below illustrates, water has a higher surface tension than common solvents used in the paint industry. This is attributed to the high attraction of water molecules for each other as a result of hydrogen bonding. Another important factor in determining the hydrophobicity of coatings is the microscopic geometry of the surface.<\/p>\n

Table 1 \u2013 Surface Tension of Paint <\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"hydro4\"<\/p>\n

Nature has multiple examples of superhydrophobic and hydrophobic definition. One of the most notable surfaces is that of the Lotus leaf. <\/em><\/strong>The contact angle of water on the surface of a Lotus leaf <\/em><\/strong>is greater than 150\u00b0. The cause of self-cleaning properties of the Lotus leaf<\/em><\/strong> is the hydrophobic water-repellent double structure of the surface. This enables the contact area and the adhesion force between surface and droplet to be significantly reduced and results in a self-cleaning process allowing water to readily roll off the leaf and collect dust deposits on the way. This micron size double structure is formed at the surface of the plant and it\u2019s comprised of needle-like projections from the surface that are covered by wax.<\/p>\n

\"Superhydrophobic
Figure 3 \u2013 Lotus Leaf Effect<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The wax-covered projections are 10 to 20\u00a0\u00b5m in height and 10 to 15\u00a0\u00b5m in width. These waxes are hydrophobic and form the top layer of the double structure. Some plants show contact angles up to 160\u00b0 and are called super-hydrophobic, meaning that only 2\u20133% of the surface of a water droplet is in contact with the surface. Since the surface contact area is less than 0.6%, this leads to the self cleaning effect.<\/p>\n

Thus far, we\u2019ve defined the factors that contribute to the hydrophobicity or the lack thereof including contact angle, surface structure, and why most organic solvents tend to wet a surface better than water as a consequence of their lower surface tension. The next segment will concentrate on how to impart greater hydrophobicity to a coating system, especially from a surface perspective.<\/p>\n

To maximize the surface hydrophobicity of a coating, the surface energy<\/a> (EU<\/a>)<\/em><\/strong> should be as low as possible. A low surface energy, coupled with an appropriately structured surface, maximizes hydrophobicity. Surface energy<\/em><\/strong> has the same units as surface tension (force per unit length or dynes\/cm). A high surface tension liquid such as water will have maximum hydrophobicity and thus have poor wetting (high contact angle) over a coating surface that has a low surface energy. <\/em><\/strong> As Table II illustrates, surface energy <\/em><\/strong>can vary greatly depending on the nature of the surface that comes in contact with water.<\/p>\n

Table II \u2013 Surface Energy of Materials[1]<\/a><\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Table
Table II \u2013 Surface Energy of Materials<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For example, a coating comprised of polyhexafluoropropylene (12.0 Dynes\/cm) on the surface will provide a more hydrophobic surface than that of polymethylmethacrylate<\/a> (EU<\/a>) (40.2 Dynes\/cm). In general terms, to provide the greatest hydrophobicity, the material\u2019s most hydrophobic moiety should be positioned on the surface. For example, if an organofunctional trimethoxysilane<\/a> (EU<\/a>) is used for surface modification, the methoxysilane<\/a> (EU<\/a>) groups should be engineered to be positioned at the surface. Perfluoro and aliphatic<\/a> (EU<\/a>) groups at the coating surface offer greater hydrophobicity than that of ester or alcohol groups. For example, from lowest to highest surface tension:<\/p>\n

\"Hydrophobic<\/p>\n

Providing increased hydrophobicity throughout a properly engineered coating can also provide additional attributes such as improved corrosion and moisture resistance.<\/p>\n

Accordingly, resin selection, flattener, extender pigments and opacifier<\/a> (EU<\/a>) pigments can also be selected to maximize hydrophobicity. Secondly, formulations utilizing nanoparticles<\/a> (EU<\/a>) must be tailored to provide proper acceptance rather than as a drop to achieve a desired property. In summary, properly formulated coatings utilizing nanoparticle technology can achieve performance attributes heretofore not obtainable by other means. Some suppliers of materials to enhance surface hydrophobicity listed in Prospector include BYK<\/a>, Evonik Industries Ag Functional Silanes<\/a>, ICM<\/a>, Momentive<\/a>, Phibro<\/a>, Shin-Etsu Silicones of America<\/a>, Tianjin Boyuan New Materials Co., Ltd.<\/a>, Evonik Industries AG Silica <\/a>and Wacker<\/a>.
\nSuppliers available in Europe<\/strong>: BYK<\/a>, Evonik Industries Ag Functional Silanes<\/a> | Momentive<\/a> | Tianjin Boyuan New Materials Co., Ltd.<\/a> | Evonik Industries AG Silica<\/a> | Wacker<\/a><\/p>\n

For additional information concerning the selection of materials to enhance hydrophobicity, please navigate to www.ulprospector.com<\/a> (EU<\/a>).<\/p>\n

[1]<\/a> Gelest 2006 Product Brochure<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A hydrophobic definition means “tending to repel or fail to mix with water.” Coatings that offer a hydrophobic (EU) or superhydrophobic surface can impart multiple advantages to the coating surface and substrate they are applied to. Advantages may include decreased … Continued<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":2550,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"episode_type":"","audio_file":"","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","itunes_episode_number":"","itunes_title":"","itunes_season_number":"","itunes_episode_type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"ppma_author":[1249],"class_list":{"0":"post-2530","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-paint-coatings","8":"entry"},"yoast_head":"\nHydrophobic and Superhydrophobic Coatings Explained<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Hydrophobic & superhydrophobic coatings can help extend the life expectancy of the coating and substrate. 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Lewarchik, President and CEO of Chemical Dynamics, LLC, brings 40 years of paint and coatings industry expertise to his role as a contributing author with the Prospector Knowledge Center. As a contributing writer, Ron pens articles on topics relevant to formulators in the coatings industry. He also serves as a consultant for the Prospector materials search engine, advising on issues related to optimization and organization materials within the database. Ron's company, Chemical Dynamics, LLC (www.chemicaldynamics.net), is a full-service paint and coatings firm specializing in consulting and product development based in Plymouth, Michigan. Since 2004, he has provided consulting, product development, contract research, feasibility studies, failure mode analysis and more for a wide range of clients, as well as their suppliers, customers and coaters. He has also served as an Adjunct Research Professor at the Coatings Research Institute of Eastern Michigan University. 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Lewarchik, President and CEO of Chemical Dynamics, LLC, brings 40 years of paint and coatings industry expertise to his role as a contributing author with the Prospector Knowledge Center. As a contributing writer, Ron pens articles on topics relevant to formulators in the coatings industry. He also serves as a consultant for the Prospector materials search engine, advising on issues related to optimization and organization materials within the database. Ron's company, Chemical Dynamics, LLC (www.chemicaldynamics.net), is a full-service paint and coatings firm specializing in consulting and product development based in Plymouth, Michigan. Since 2004, he has provided consulting, product development, contract research, feasibility studies, failure mode analysis and more for a wide range of clients, as well as their suppliers, customers and coaters. He has also served as an Adjunct Research Professor at the Coatings Research Institute of Eastern Michigan University. As such, Ron was awarded a sub-grant from the Department of Energy to develop energy-saving coating technology for architectural applications, as well as grants from private industry to develop low energy cure, low VOC compliant coatings. He taught courses on color and application of automotive top coats, cathodic electro-coat and surface treatment. His experience includes coatings for automotive, coil, architectural, industrial and product finishing. Previously, Ron was the Vice President of Industrial Research and Technology, as well as the Global Director of Coil Coating Technology for BASF (Morton International). During his fourteen-year tenure with the company, he developed innovative coil coating commercial products primarily for roofing, residential, commercial and industrial building, as well as industrial and automotive applications. He was awarded fifteen patents for new resin and coating formulas. From 1974 to 1990, Ron held positions with Desoto, Inc. and PPG Industries. He was the winner of two R&D awards for coatings utilizing PVDF resins, developed the first commercial high solids automotive topcoat and was awarded 39 U.S. patents for a variety of novel technologies he developed. He holds a Masters in Physical Organic Chemistry from the University of Pittsburgh and subsequently studied Polymer Science at Carnegie Mellon University. Ron lives in Brighton, Michigan with his family. Contact Ron via email\u00a0or through his company\u2019s web site at www.chemicaldynamics.net to learn more about his consulting services\u2026","sameAs":["https:\/\/ulprospector.ul.com"],"url":"https:\/\/ulprospector.ul.com\/author\/ron-lewarchik\/"}]}},"authors":[{"term_id":1249,"user_id":12,"is_guest":0,"slug":"ron-lewarchik","display_name":"Ron Lewarchik","avatar_url":"https:\/\/ulprospector.ul.com\/media\/2014\/05\/Ron-Lewarchik_avatar_1399393591-96x96.png","0":null,"1":"","2":"","3":"","4":"","5":"","6":"","7":"","8":""}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ulprospector.ul.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2530","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ulprospector.ul.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ulprospector.ul.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ulprospector.ul.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/12"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ulprospector.ul.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2530"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/ulprospector.ul.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2530\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ulprospector.ul.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2550"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ulprospector.ul.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2530"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ulprospector.ul.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2530"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ulprospector.ul.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2530"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ulprospector.ul.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=2530"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}