Atmospheric plasma-polymerization of hydrophobic and wear-resistant coatings on glass substrates

In order to find a coating that promotes both the wear resistance and the hydrophobicity of glass, a non-thermal atmospheric jet plasma-polymerization system with mixtures of two precursors at different proportions were used. (Heptadecafluoro-1,1,2,2-tetrahydrodecyl)trimethoxysilane (FLUSI) was used to promote the hydrophobicity, due to its fluorocarbon chain. Aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) was used to enhance the wear resistance of the surface. The key aspect of the present work consists of determining the optimal mixture of precursors that produces a satisfactory coating in both characteristics; since coatings based on FLUSI have a low wear resistance and those based on APTES have a hydrophilic character. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), lap-shear tests, static water contact angle (WCA), tribological tests, profilometry measurements and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) were used to analyze the coatings. It is believed that the upper limit of hydrophobicity that can be attained by modifying of the surface chemistry (WCA of ∼ 120°) has been achieved. It was observed that the wear resistance depends on the thickness and the SiOSi content of the coatings. These appear to be directly related to the proportion of APTES in the mixture. The sample that was coated with 50% of APTES and 50% of FLUSI provided the best combination of hydrophobicity and wear resistance. It showed the highest WCA (123.2° ± 1.5) because it has a high fluorocarbon content and the highest CF3 content. Its wear resistance is considerably better than that of the uncoated glass and is one of the highest exhibited by the hydrophobic samples.