Manufacturing of robust superhydrophobic Wood surfaces based on PEG–Functionalized SiO2/PVA/PAA/Fluoropolymer hybrid transparent coating

Inspired by the unique characteristics and special surface of morph–genetic materials in the living nature, discovering surfaces of super–wettability such as “lotus leaves, red rose petals, gecko feet, Salvinia leaf, and so on”, a number of researchers have been used various methods to create the biomimetic structures with nano/micro–manufacturing and a low energy surface. Recently, extensive attention has been paid to improving multi–functional robust superhydrophobicity and high optically transparent superhydrophobic surfaces. Herein, a simple and novel method was proposed to synthesize a large area of biomimetic robust superhydrophobic transparent coating, which is based on PEG–functionality SiO2/PVA/PAA/Fluoropolymer coating with nano/micro–manufacturing structures, and has excellent durability and robustness on wood surface using a multi–solvent continuous modification method. The as-prepared biomimetic wood has a robust mechanical nanostructures, which not only has a relatively high UV transmittance of 72% at 550 nm, but also has excellent durability under mechanical shock and different temperature condition. Moreover, it also possess superhydrophobicity and superior water–resistant with a water contact angle of 159°, which is mainly due to the fact that the surface of superhydrophobic coating consists of nanoparticles aggregated with each other in an arrangement of pillars structure enveloping the nanoparticles to form a complete micro–nano binary rough structure via biomimetic PEG–functionalized SiO2/PVA/PAA/Fluoropolymer hybrid transparent coating, outperforming the untreated wood timber. Meanwhile, an amplified load effect existed within the creep under cyclic moisture changes, which the sportive mechanical creep properties of as–prepared biomimetic robust superhydrophobic wood only displayed conventional creep characteristics, implying that a superior mechanical performance would act on moisture content on the superhydrophobic coating. These design strategies can lead to the development of other self–cleaning superhydrophobic and switchable adhesive superhydrophobic materials for harsh operating environments.