Super-hydrophilic anti-fogging layer for greenhouse films

A polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) based anti-fogging layer has been successfully developed in a recent study an showed an impressive long shelf-life by remarkably increasing the wettability of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) films for agricultural greenhouses application.

A plasma treatment of LDPE films was initially implemented, followed by the solution casting method. Tris-buffered saline was added for enhancing the interaction between the anti-fogging agents and PVA polymer. Silica nanoparticles were used to enhance the stability of the layer.

Films become super-hydrophilic

The results show that the obtained films become super-hydrophilic, having a contact angle less than 2° without water droplets formation under the hot fog test, for 1 month at 60 °C. According to the scientists, the use of this anti-fogging agent provides a key in solving the problem of fogging for agriculture greenhouses.

The study has been published in Progress in Organic Coatings, Volume 159, October 2021.