Easy-to-clean multifunctional coatings by sol-gel processing
In a paper, sol-gel-based transparent easy-to-clean (ETC) coatings are fabricated using organic-inorganic hybrid precursors and fluorinated silane-based hydrophobic surfactants.
ETC coatings were applied on different plastic materials such as polycarbonate, poly(methyl methacrylate) and polyethylene terephthalate.
Alumina nanoparticles improve mechanical properties
Due to the low temperature resistance of the plastic materials, usually lower than 120°C, low temperature processes such as ammonia gas curing and ultraviolet irradiation curing were employed for coatings development. Alumina nanoparticles were used to improve the mechanical properties of the coatings, and antimicrobial effect was realised by incorporation of silver nanoparticles, and high bacterial killing rates were obtained with very low silver concentration (50ppm). All the coatings developed on different substrates show high water/hexadecane contact angles with good wet scrubbing resistance.
The study is published in: Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology, July 2015, Volume 75, Issue 1, pp 17-24.
