Coating Sand with New Hydrophobic and Superhydrophobic Silica/Paraffin Wax Nanocapsules for Desert Water Storage and Transportation

Abstract

Paraffin wax emulsions have gained immense attention as a cheap, environment-friendly, and aroma-free material for preparing superhydrophobic coatings. In this work, paraffin wax (PWs) capsules consisting of hydrophobic silica nanoparticles were used for coating desert sand. Different types of the hydrophobic silica nanoparticles, modified with new oleylamino- and oleylamide silane precursors, were prepared in the presence and absence of paraffin waxes. The particle sizes, surface charges, thermal stability, surface morphologies, and wetting characteristics of these nanoparticles were investigated. The combination of these superhydrophobic silica nanoparticles and desert sand, showed excellent water repellency; stable water droplets remained on the sand surface, without any wetting or permeation. Furthermore, the mixing of the superhydrophobic sand with untreated sand (mixing ratio 1:10 wt %), with a thickness of 2 cm, sustained a great water-holding capacity with a water column height of 35 cm. The good thermal stability of the PWs capsules containing hydrophobic silica nanoparticles, along with their good water-holding capacity, make them potential candidates for developing superhydrophobic sand for desert water storage and transportation.

Sustainable Materials for Liquid Repellent Coatings

“…A similar mixed organic-inorganic approach is found in the work of Atta et al [67] where the authors used paraffin wax (n-alkanes with 18-38 carbon atoms) not as coating on a surface but to create capsules of hydrophobic silica nanoparticles as coatings for desert sand using an emulsion technique for developing superhydrophobic sand for desert water storage and transportation. Different types of silica nanoparticles were made and, when coated with paraffin wax, the authors obtained modified desert sand with water CA = 165 • , a good water-holding capacity, and high thermal stability.…”

Karakteristik Hidropobik Beberapa Jenis Daun Berukuran Kecil

“…Permukaan super hidropobik dengan transmisi optik tinggi dalam panjang gelombang terlihat memiliki potensi besar untuk berbagai aplikasi seperti komponen optik, lensa, layar display, peralatan elektronik, kaca mobil, kaca anti kabut, panel surya, dan lain-lain [13]. Untuk kebutuhan di daerah gurun, permukaan hidropobik telah dikaji untuk pelapisan penyimpan air dan transportasi [15]. Sifat hidropobik juga diaplikasikan untuk pelapisan material konstruksi [16].…”

Surface Chemistry of Nanohybrids with Fumed Silica Functionalized by Polydimethylsiloxane/Dimethyl Carbonate Studied Using 1H, 13C, and 29Si Solid-State NMR Spectroscopy

“…Nanooxides such as fumed silica (nanosilica) are important industrial materials used in both unmodified [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ] and modified functionalized [ 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 ] states. Various silanes and siloxanes are widely used to modify silica particles [ 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 ]. Modified silica materials with alkyl chains are more appropriate to prepare various composites with polymers as compared with unmodified silica materials [ 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 ].…”