Development of stain resistant, superhydrophobic and self-cleaning coating on wood surface

In this work, hydrophilic (Dalbergia sissoo) wood has been modified into a superhydrophobic wood through simple immersion method using titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles and perfluorooctyltriethoxysilane (PFOTS). Wettability and surface topography of modified wood were characterized by contact angle measurement technique and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Functional groups present on the modified wood surface were analysed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Modified wood shows the excellent repellency to water and liquids with surface tension of more than 47 mN/m, with a static contact angle of more than 150° and tilt angle of less than 10°. Additionally, mechanical, thermal and chemical stability tests were also performed to evaluate wetting properties of superhydrophobic wood under harsh conditions. Furthermore, modified wood exhibits excellent self-cleaning and stain resistant properties, which makes it suitable for domestic and industrial applications.