Fluorinated polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane nanoparticles to boost the dirt repellence of high pressure laminates

• (Nonafluoro hexyl)8Si8O12 particles (FH-POSS) were synthesized by a sol–gel method.
• Surface layer of high pressure laminates (HPLs) was doped by FH-POSS afforded an increased dirt repellence to HPLs.
• Increased with time hydrophobicity of HPLs surface was assigned to POSS migration.
• Abrasion resistance of HPL was improved due to the silica core in POSS particles.

High pressure laminates (HPLs) are attractive, resistant to environmental effects and good cost-benefit decorative surface composite materials whose properties can be tailored to meet specific market demands. In this study, the substantial improvement of dirt repellence of HPLs with simultaneous enhancement of its abrasion resistance was achieved for the first time by incorporating nonafluorohexyl polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (FH-POSS) nanoparticles (up to 1% w/w) into a melamine–formaldehyde (MF) resin matrix used to impregnate decorative and overlay papers required for HPLs production. FH-POSS particles were synthesized and thoroughly characterized by 13C and 29Si solid state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. Fluoroalkyl moieties in FH-POSS afforded increased hydrophobicity to HPLs thus providing improved surface cleanability, whereas abrasion resistance was improved due to the robust silica core of the POSS particles. Hydrophobicity of HPLs doped with FH-POSS increased with time, after resin curing, and this was attributed to migration of FH-POSS nanoparticles to the composite surface.

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