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Superhydrophobic Silicone/TiO 2 –SiO 2 Nanorod‐like Composites for Marine Fouling Release Coatings
Author(s) -
Selim Mohamed S.,
ElSafty Sherif A.,
Azzam Ahmed M.,
Shenashen Mohamed A.,
ElSockary Maher A.,
Abo Elenien Ossama M.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
chemistryselect
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.437
H-Index - 34
ISSN - 2365-6549
DOI - 10.1002/slct.201803314
Subject(s) - nanorod , materials science , contact angle , wetting , composite material , biofouling , chemical engineering , silicone , fouling , coating , silicone resin , photocatalysis , hydrothermal circulation , nanotechnology , chemistry , membrane , catalysis , biochemistry , engineering
For the first time, a superhydrophobic series of silicone/nanorod‐like TiO 2 –SiO 2 core–shell composites was fabricated by solution casting for marine fouling release (FR) coatings. Hydrothermal technique was used to prepare single crystal TiO 2 nanorods as a core structure in the diameter regime of 20 nm and preferentially grown in {101} direction. Hybrid nanorod‐like TiO 2 –SiO 2 core–shell nanofillers were synthesized by sol–gel technique with silica shell thickness of 2–5 nm. The structure‐property relationship was investigated by dispersing various nanofiller concentrations in the silicone matrix. Surface non‐wettability properties were investigated using water contact angle (WCA), surface free energy (SFE), and atomic force microscopy. Coating′s photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants and microorganisms was also investigated. Selected micro‐ and macro‐fouling strains were used for antifouling assessments in laboratory. The fabricated models were subjected to a rigorous field trial in natural seawater for 6 months in a tropical area. Well‐distributed nanorod‐like TiO 2 –SiO 2 core–shell (0.5 wt.%) exhibited the preferable FR self‐cleaning with WCA of 154° and SFE of 10.45 mN/m.