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Enhancing the Mechanical Properties of Superhydrophobic Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Deposited Siloxane Coatings
Author(s) -
Nwankire Charles E.,
Favaro Gregory,
Duong QuynhHuong,
Dowling Denis P.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
plasma processes and polymers
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.644
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1612-8869
pISSN - 1612-8850
DOI - 10.1002/ppap.201000069
Subject(s) - materials science , contact angle , hexamethyldisiloxane , superhydrophobic coating , nanoindentation , composite material , abrasion (mechanical) , atmospheric pressure plasma , coating , siloxane , tribometer , ellipsometry , surface roughness , surface finish , adhesion , thin film , tribology , nanotechnology , polymer , plasma , physics , quantum mechanics
Surfaces with water contact angles above 150° are regarded as superhydrophobic. In this study the use of atmospheric pressure plasma jet system called PlasmaStream TM to deposit superhydrophobic coatings is investigated. The coatings were deposited from the following liquid precursors: hexamethyldisiloxane (HMDSO), tetramethyl cyclotetrasiloxane (Tomcats) and a mixture of Tomcats and fluorosiloxane. The objective of the study is to investigate how precursor type and deposition conditions, influences the morphology and mechanical performance of the deposited superhydrophobic coatings. Optical profilometry, AFM, SEM, Ellipsometry, XPS, Water contact angle and FTIR techniques were used to evaluate the surface roughness, morphology, thickness and chemical functionality of the deposited coatings. The mechanical properties were evaluated using the Nano Tribometer, Nano Scratch, Ultra Nanoindentation and ultrasonic abrasion tests. Superhydrophobic coatings deposited from a precursor mixture of Tomcats and fluorosiloxane yielded a substantial enhancement in coating adhesion and mechanical durability compared to the superhydrophobic coatings obtained with either Tomcats or HMDSO precursors alone.