The invention to which this application relates is apparatus and a method for applying coatings to improve the ability to provide Oleophobic and/or Hydrophilic surfaces on an item and the coating includes particles and/or nano particles to enhance the performance characteristics of the coating.

A superhydrophobic coating is provided and contains organosilane, an inorganic nanomaterial, and an emulsifying agent. A mass proportion of the components is controlled, so that the superhydrophobic coating can form a micro-nano mixed microstructure inside foam concrete. The organosilane first forms dense hydrophobic surface layers on the surface and in inner pores of the foam concrete, and the nanomaterial forms uniformly distributed nano-bulges on the hydrophobic surface layers formed by the silane. The superhydrophobic performance of the foam concrete can be effectively improved by combining the two microstructures. The foam concrete exhibits excellent superhydrophobic performance.

A surface-treating agent including a component (A) which is at least one fluoropolyether group-containing compound of formula (1A) or (2A) shown below; a component (B) which is at least one fluoropolyether group-containing compound of the following formula (1B) or (2B) shown below; and a component (C) which is one or more fluorine-containing oils:

Rf.sup.1A.sub.α1—X.sup.A—R.sup.A.sub.β1  (1A)

R.sup.A.sub.γ1—X.sup.A—Rf.sup.2A—X.sup.A—R.sup.A.sub.γ1  (2A)

Rf.sup.1B.sub.α2—X.sup.B—R.sup.B.sub.β2  (1B)

R.sup.B.sub.γ2—X.sup.B—Rf.sup.2B—X.sup.B—R.sup.B.sub.γ2  (2B)

wherein formulas (1A), (2A), (1B and (2B) are as defined herein.

A superhydrophobic hemispherical array which can realize droplet pancake bouncing phenomenon is provided. The superhydrophobic hemispherical array shows an arc-shape structure which is narrow at the top and wide at the bottom, where a is the angle that substrate-gas interface goes across the gas and reaches substrate-hemisphere interface, d refers to the diameter of the contact area between hemispherical structure and substrate, s represents the space between two adjoining hemispheres, h denotes the vertical height from the top of hemisphere to substrate surface, and 70°≤a≤90°, 900 μm≤d ≤1700 μm, s≤550 μm, 600 μm≤h≤1100 μm, respectively. The superhydrophobic hemispherical array has a water contact angle larger than 150° and roll-off angle lower than 10°.

The present invention provides a method for producing an optical film excellent in anti-fouling properties and scratch resistance as well as anti-reflection properties. The method includes the steps of: (1) applying a lower layer resin and an upper layer resin; (2) forming a resin layer having the uneven structure on a surface thereof by pressing a mold against the lower layer resin and the upper layer resin from the upper layer resin side in the state where the applied lower layer resin and upper layer resin are stacked; and (3) curing the resin layer, the lower layer resin containing at least one kind of first monomer that contains no fluorine atoms, the upper layer resin containing a fluorine-containing monomer and at least one kind of second monomer that contains no fluorine atoms, at least one of the first monomer and the second monomer containing a compatible monomer that is compatible with the fluorine-containing monomer and being dissolved in the lower layer resin and the upper layer resin.

This disclosure discloses a durable super-hydrophobic manganese dioxide coating, belonging to the field of metallic material surface treatment. The super-hydrophobic manganese dioxide coating includes manganese dioxide microspheres and a stearic acid shell. The manganese dioxide microspheres are encased in the stearic acid shell. The manganese dioxide microspheres are stacked hierarchically on the metallic material surface.

A method of forming a film system includes depositing a monolayer formed from a fluorocarbon onto a substrate. After depositing, the method includes ablating the monolayer to define a plurality of cavities therein, wherein each of the plurality of cavities is spaced apart from an adjacent one of the plurality of cavities along the monolayer. After ablating, the method includes embedding a photocatalytic material into each of the plurality of cavities to form a film on the substrate and thereby form the film system. The film system includes a plurality of regions including the photocatalytic material and disposed within the monolayer such that each of the plurality of regions abuts and is surrounded by the fluorocarbon.

A method for applying a coating to a surface includes the step of providing a reaction mixture comprising a silicon alkoxide and an alcohol. A reaction limiting amount of water is added. The silicon alkoxides and water are allowed to react to form silica precursor particles during an initial reaction period. A coating precursor composition is prepared by adding an acid soluble in the alcohol to the reaction mixture during a second reaction period after the initial reaction period. The precursor silica particles grow to form silica nanofeatures having a major dimension that is larger than a major dimension of the silica precursor particles. The coating precursor composition is applied to a surface, and the alcohol and water are allowed to evaporate and the silica nanofeatures to adhere to the surface and form a nanostructured layer on the surface. A coating precursor composition and a coated article are also disclosed.

The invention is directed to curable polyurethane coating compositions which may be used to form fouling release coatings, e.g., for use in protecting boat hulls. A curable coating composition of the invention comprises a) at least one amphiphilic additive; b) at least one polyisocyanate; c) at least one polyol; and d) optionally, at least one amphiphilic PEG-PDMS isocyanate prepolymer. Another curable coating composition of the invention comprises the at least one polyisocyanate, b), the at least one polyol, c), and the at least one amphiphilic PEG-PDMS isocyanate prepolymer, d). The invention further relates to methods for reducing or preventing biofouling of a surface exposed to an aqueous environment comprising the steps of coating the surface with the curable coating compositions of the invention to form a coated surface, and curing the coating composition on the coated surface.

Compositions and processes are disclosed for forming hydrophobic coatings and lubricant-infused surface coatings. Coatings may be applied to various substrates without prior chemical or temperature treatment of the substrates and over large and irregular surfaces. Coatings are self-healing, antifouling, and have enhanced lifetimes.