A fluorine-free and nanoparticle-free superhydrophobic coating: A mechanism and self-cleaning application investigation

In this study, an unconventional superhydrophobic surface construction technique was explored that used aluminate coupling agent (ACA) as raw material to prepare a fluorine-free and nanoparticle-free superhydrophobic coating with “rose” micro-nano structure. Mechanistic investigations proved that the structure of HY-988 was caused by the gas released from the internal reaction when heated, with the reaction temperature and time as the main influencing factors. The prepared coating exhibited excellent superhydrophobicity, peel resistance, and mechanical impact resistance. After 50 times of water impact or 180 days of exposure to air, its water contact angle (WCA) was still 154°. It showed good durability and self-cleaning effect on architectural appearance when combined with resin. Therefore, it can be concluded that the process is scalable, which not only provides a new method for the preparation of durable superhydrophobic coatings, but also opens up a new route for the applications of ACA.