The Effect of M-SiO₂ Mass Ratio on the Morphological Properties and Hydrophobicity of Chemically Modified Nanocomposite Coatings

Abstract:

The development of durable hydrophobic coatings remains a significant challenge for industrial applications. This study addresses this by fabricating EP/modified-SiO₂ coatings. The silica nanoparticles (SiO₂) were first surface-functionalized with 3-Aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) and tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) to enhance compatibility. The fabricated coatings were comprehensively characterized to assess their hydrophobic properties through water contact angle (WCA) measurements, surface morphology via roughness analysis, and chemical composition using Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The findings indicate that the coating with an M-SiO₂ to EP ratio of 2:1 exhibited superior performance, achieving the highest water contact angle of 123±1° and a surface roughness (Ra) of approximately 15.357 μm. FT-IR analysis confirmed the successful chemical modification of the nanoparticles, as evidenced by the disappearance of the characteristic -OH peak at 3348 cm^-1. These results suggest that the 2:1 ratio promotes an optimal surface morphology conducive to the Cassie-Baxter wetting state, thereby enhancing hydrophobicity. In contrast, a higher nanoparticle content was found to induce aggregation, which detrimentally affected the coating's hydrophobic performance.

• Periodical: Solid State Phenomena (Volume 394)
• Pages: 109-115
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/p-tcEcX1
• Online since: June 2026
• Authors: Kadek Wahyudi*, Khasani Khasani, Kusmono Kusmono
• Keywords: Chemical Functionalization, Hydrophobicity, Nanocomposite Coating, SiO₂ Nanoparticles, Surface Roughness, Water Contact Angle

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