Superhydrophobic Paraloid B72

Paraloid B72 is a very important product in the conservation and restoration science and practice, particularly for cultural heritage and artistic objects. It is an inherent hydrophilic copolymer of methyl acrylate and ethyl methacrylate. In this study, superhydrophobicity is induced in Paraloid coatings by embedding silica (SiO2) nanoparticles into the polymer matrix, at appropriate concentration. Coatings are deposited on glass, marble, brass and wood. Nanoparticles form microscale clusters which enhance the roughness of the polymer surface. Nanoparticles have negligible, moderate and enormous effects on the colour of treated marble, wood and brass, respectively. The Paraloid + SiO2 composite coatings show good chemical stability.