Improvement of water and oil repellency on wood substrates by using fluorinated silica nanocoating

We have investigated a one-step fabrication of fluoro-containing silica coating on wooden substrates, showing multi-functions including super repellency toward water and sunflower oil, low sliding angles, good durability, and low adsorption capacity of moisture. The repellent slurry, consisting of well-mixing silica nanospheres and perfluoroalkyl methacrylic copolymer, is simply prepared and subsequently sprayed over wooden substrates with good adhesion. It has shown that the decoration of silica nanospheres on microscaled wooden texture acts as a crucial role in improving the repellency toward water and sunflower oil droplets. The maximal contact angles can reach as high as 168.3° and 153.6° for water and sunflower oil drops, respectively. These analyses of wetted fraction and work of adhesion also demonstrate the improved repellency due to the addition of silica. This improvement of the repellencies is ascribed to the fact that the drops partially sit on F-coated silica spheres, leaving a layer of air underneath the droplet (i.e., Cassie state). On the basis of the results, the multi-functional coating on wooden substrates delivers a promising commercial feasibility on a variety of woodworks.

Graphical abstract. Photographs of surface repellency toward different types of liquids: (a) coffee, (b) red wine, (c) coke, (d) milk, and (e) soya sauce, on F-silica coated wooden surface. The satisfactory result clearly demonstrates that this efficient approach contributes significantly to anti-contamination coatings on wooden surfaces.Download full-size imageHighlights► A one-step fabrication of fluoro-containing silica coating on wooden substrates was investigated. ► The silica spheres play a crucial role in improving the repellency toward water and oil droplets. ► The multi-functional coating on wooden substrates delivers a promising feasibility on the woodworks.