Facile fabrication of superhydrophobic coatings on concrete substrate

Purpose The purpose of this study is to prepare a chemically stable superhydrophobic coating with remarkable mechanical properties and concrete protective properties. Design/methodology/approach One synthetic step was adopted to prepare superhydrophobic coating. The process and product were analyzed and confirmed by fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), water contact angle (WCA), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The mechanical properties were confirmed by tensile test. The concrete protective properties were confirmed by solution immersion test and rapid chloride migration coefficient test. Findings MSiO 2 nanoparticles (NPs) were chosen to enhance the hydrophobicity of fluorosilicone coatings. With a 4:1 mass ratio of fluorosilicone resin and MSiO 2 NPs, the coatings show superhydrophobicity with a WCA of 156° and a SA of 3.1°. In addition, the tensile mechanical property was improved, and the chloride ion diffusion coefficient was decreased significantly after the addition of MSiO 2 NPs. Practical implications This new fluorosilicone coating hybrid by MSiO 2 NPs could be applied as a concrete protective layer with properties of self-cleaning, antifouling, etc. Originality/value Introduction of MSiO 2 NPs hybrid to prepare fluorosilicone coating with superhydrophobicity on concrete surface has not been systematically studied previously.