High-durability polydimethylsiloxane/quartz@SiO2 superhydrophobic coating with enhanced mechanical robustness and wear resistance

Superhydrophobic coatings have garnered significant attention due to their potential applications across various fields. However, their mechanical instability has limited their widespread practical application. Therefore, a durable superhydrophobic coating that is both wear-resistant and possesses high mechanical robustness is particularly important for practical applications in various industrial and construction settings. In this work, a novel superhydrophobic coating was prepared, with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) as the matrix and micro-scale quartz particles loaded with hydrophobic nanoscale silica (SiO 2 ) as the filler. Mechanical robustness and weather resistance of the coating were comprehensively evaluated through sandpaper abrasion, tape-peeling, acid-base salt corrosion. Results show that the prepared coating has a water contact angle of 158° and retains superhydrophobicity even after 100 cycles of abrasion. The coating exhibits superior wear resistance, mechanical robustness, and weather resistance due to the combination of PDMS and the hierarchical structure of quartz@SiO 2 , which prevents unnecessary cleavage of the matrix resin and maintains superhydrophobic properties even when flaking occurs. This work provides a low-cost, scalable fabrication strategy to overcome the mechanical limitation of superhydrophobic coatings, offering new insights for designing durable functional surfaces. The straightforward and cost-effective preparation process makes this coating a promising candidate for large-scale production and practical applications in waterproofing, anti-pollution. • Micro-quartz@SiO 2 hierarchical structure creates micro-nano roughness to achieve robust superhydrophobicity. • Quartz reinforcement prevents matrix resin cleavage and sustains hydrophobicity during abrasion via self-regenerative roughness. • PDMS-quartz composite system resists UV radiation, acid/alkali corrosion, and saltwater degradation. • The Stöber modification process combined with solution spin coating technology enables low-cost and scalable preparation of superhydrophobic coatings.