Simple Method of Creating Hydrophobic Surfaces Based on Modified MW-CNTs

Abstract

The creation of hydrophobic, antifreeze and self-cleaning coatings is currently being pursued by many industrial sectors. The potential applications include the production of liquid and gas separators and filters, new materials, optical and microelectronic devices, and textiles and clothing. These coatings will also have wide application in the construction and automobile industries, shipping, and energy and agricultural sectors. The article proposes a simple approach to the creation of superhydrophobic and antifreeze coatings, by applying powder from multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MW-CNTs) to the sample surface. This method enables combination of the necessary factors: low surface energy, micro–nano-roughness and hierarchical multi-scale. The authors investigated the dependence of the wetting angle of such a surface on the time, type and degree of functionalization. The electrophysical properties of modified MW-CNTs were studied over wide frequency and temperature ranges. This method of obtaining hydrophobic coatings differs from currently available methods in that it is simpler to prepare, is of lower cost and has less environmental impact. The proposed approach can be used to create superhydrophobic coatings that have the additional function of removing static charge and therefore reducing surface heating, and which can be used in the field of energetics for protection against the freezing of wind turbine blades and aircraft surfaces.

Nanomaterials Used in Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage: An Up-to-Date Overview

“…Thus, they obtained a material with a contact angle of almost 151 • and concluded that the short functionalization periods of MWCNTs (up to 90 min) are dominated by the cleaning process of the nanotubes (amorphous carbon and metal nanoparticles-the catalyst). The MWCNTs functionalized for 90 min showed an increase in the contact angle from 112 • (value obtained for a working time below 90 min) to 140 • (90 min operating time), allowing this coating to be considered as being highly hydrophobic [164]. In a recent study, MWCNTs were synthesized by catalytic CVD, and on the surface of these nanotubes was physically adsorbed fluid poly (dimethylsiloxane) fluid, in order to obtain a superhydrophobic nanocomposite material.…”

“…Presently, the aim is to create hydrophobic, anti-freeze and self-cleaning coatings in several industrial sectors, particularly in the cultural heritage area. These coatings will also have a wide application in the construction and automotive industries [164]. To date, only a few studies have been reported on heritage conservation by using CNTs, which have been very successful in the consolidation and restoration of the object [167,168].…”

Fabrication of vertically aligned CNT- vanadium oxide hybrid architecture with enhanced compressibility and supercapacitor performance

“…However, VACNT forest in their pristine form deprived of the accessible specific surface area due to their vertically stacked orientation and non-polar behavior [9]. But oxidation of these aligned structures helps in the incorporation of oxygenated functional groups along with the formation of CNT bundles [10]. Consequently, the oxygenated functional groups and the open porous structure of the hybrid electrode thus formed, increases the number of interaction sites available for the electrolyte ions.…”