Self‐Cleaning of Fluorescent Polyester: Construction of Superhydrophobic Coatings by Surface Microsolubility Particle Semi Embedding Technology

ABSTRACT Fluorescent materials are extensively utilized in anti‐counterfeiting and security applications, and surface cleanliness is crucial for preserving their functionality. This study presents a novel hydrophobic fluorescent coating characterized by a morphology in which particles are semi‐embedded and evenly dispersed within the primer. The coating was developed using an innovative method that involves spraying hydrophobic silica onto a microscopically dissolved fluorescent polyethylene terephthalate (PET) primer. The coating demonstrates superior hydrophobicity, with a water contact angle (WCA) of 165.0° ± 5.0° and a sliding angle of 3.0°, as well as an outstanding luminous intensity 541.4 mcd/m 2 . Due to strong primer and semi‐embedded particle binding, the coating shows good durability. After 80 wear treatment, the hydrophobic properties of the fluorescent coating were largely maintained. After 32 days of exposure to 0.68 W/m 2 ultraviolet light, the contact angle decreased from 160.0° to 154.7° (with a sliding angle of 8.0°). In addition, the firmness, transparency, and self‐cleaning function of the coating can be effectively maintained. The coating in this work has solved the inherent problems of functionality, hydrophobicity, and durability in the coating field, and has a wide range of applications including flexible fabrics, road safety field, and building exterior materials.