INVESTIGATING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF NANOMODIFIED SUPERHYDROPHOBIC COATINGS ON FIBER-REINFORCED LAMINATED COMPOSITES

Abstract

Superhydrophobic surfaces exhibit water-repellent properties, minimizing water retention. In many sectors, such as aviation, automotive, maritime, and electronics, superhydrophobic coatings play a crucial role in preventing issues caused by water, including ice formation, adhesion of pollutants, increased friction, and structural damage. Furthermore, the addition of superhydrophobic properties to glass, carbon, and Kevlar fiber-reinforced composites has garnered significant interest for various industrial applications. This study specifically focuses on evaluating the effectiveness of superhydrophobic coatings on fiber-reinforced laminated composites made of glass, carbon, and kevlar fibers. The primary objective is to mitigate moisture ingress in these composites, resulting in weight reduction, improved fuel efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. Wetting behavior was assessed using contact angle measurements (WCA), where lower contact angles indicate higher hydrophilicity. The results demonstrate that the superhydrophobic coatings on the composite surfaces significantly increase their contact angles, indicating superhydrophobic characteristics. Further analysis was conducted using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy to examine the functional groups present on the composite surfaces before and after coating. The FTIR analysis revealed changes in chemical bond types, particularly the appearance of hydrogen (O-H) and carbonyl (C=O) bonds, indicating the presence of hydroxyl groups and polysiloxane coatings, respectively. Additional peaks representing silicon-oxide (Si-O) bonds were observed, suggesting the successful integration of superhydrophobic coatings. The enhanced hydrophobicity of the coated composites offers protection against rust, adhesion, icing, dissolution, wetting, and self-cleaning. This research contributes to the development of longer-lasting composite materials, ultimately improving the performance and durability of various industrial applications. Copyright © 2023. Used by CAMX - The Composites and Advanced Materials Expo. CAMX Conference Proceedings.