pps proceeding - Abstract Preview
pps proceeding
Symposium: S10 - Nano- and Microstructured Surfaces and Films
Poster Presentation
 
 

An Investigation of morphology and chemical composition of water-repellent films based on Poly(dimethylsiloxane)/titanium dioxide nanocomposites

Bolvardi Beleta (1)*

(1) IslamicAzadUniversity - Tehran - Iran

In this study, Poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS)/titanium dioxide (TiO2) films were fabricated through simple solution casting technique via a modified phase separation process. The presented approach resulted in a remarkable reduction in the required amount of nanoparticles for achieving super hydrophobicity. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and 3D confocal microscopy were utilized to characterize surface morphology and topography of samples, respectively. An attempt was made to give an in-depth analysis on the surface rough structure using 3D roughness profiles. It was found that high inclusions of non-solvent and nano particles resulted in a stable self-cleaning behavior due to the strong presence of hydrophobic TiO2 nanoparticles on the surface. Quite unexpectedly, low inclusions of nanoparticles and non-solvent also resulted in super hydrophobic property mainly due to the proper level of induced surface roughness. XPS analysis was also utilized to determine the chemical composition of the films’ surfaces. The results of falling drop experiments showed that the sample containing a higher level of nanoparticles had a much lower mechanical resistance against the induced harsh conditions.