Hydrophobic coatings
have considerable potential applications in
many fields. Ease of operation and high durability are essential for
practical use. Fast curing and being solvent-free are a plus, and
if they possess certain characteristics (antigraffiti, good adhesion,
high hardness, heat resistance, wide range of applicability, etc.)
at the same time, it is a dream solution. Herein, a facile one-step
approach with the above features was reported for a UV curable robust
hydrophobic coating based on Epoxy Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxanes
(EP-POSSs). The structure and surface morphology of these EP-POSSs
and their derivatives were systematically studied. Because of the
core-in-cage structure which was constructed by repeating units of
R-Si(O
1/2
)
3
and the strong covalent bonds of
Si–C and Si–O, the coatings displayed high pencil hardness
(6–8H), high thermal stability with initial decomposition temperature
around 350–400 °C, and a high water contact angle (up
to 108.06°) even after outdoor exposure for a month. These POSSs
and their derivatives are expected to find uses in various applications
such as stain resistance, self-cleaning, scratch resistance, and cigarette
moxibustion resistance of wood furniture, kitchenware, and medical
and industrial appliances.