Spray-Deposited Fluorine-Free Polymer Coatings via Fatty-Acid/Oxide Interphases for Extreme Water Repellency

DOI

10.2991/978-94-6239-727-9_26How to use a DOI?

Keywords

Superhydrophobic coatings; fluorine-free; fatty acids

Abstract

To achieve fluorine-free superhydrophobicity, a combination of long-chain carboxylates and polar metal-oxide nanophases is used. The materials are incorporated into off-the-shelf polymer matrices, and the obtained coatings are deposited via scalable spray deposition. The coatings can show low surface energy, hierarchical roughness, and superhydrophobicity at room temperature. A quick particle functionalization process accomplishes hydrophobic oxide dispersions that bind well with a commercial polyurethane binder. The same interfacial modification is resisted by nonpolar silica counterparts. This shows a polarity- driven interplay to get polymer-filler compatibilization in coatings. Using FT-IR for interphase signatures and SEM for microtexture, as well as wetting metrics such as static contact angle, contact-angle hysteresis, and rolling angle, the structure–property relationships are mapped to confirm water repellency beyond conventional superhydrophobicity, with little droplet pinning. Performance testing under tape-adhesion cycling, anti-stain testing on incline surfaces, and side-by-side spray vs dip application together reveal a formulation and process window preserving extreme wettability while improving mechanical robustness. According to the research, an effective approach consists of sonication-assisted mixing of functionalized oxides and nonfluorinated fatty acids into commercially available polyurethane, followed by compressed-air spraying for developing durable self-cleaning polymer coatings under ambient conditions. As a whole, these results establish a polymer-centred, industry-aligned route in which nanophase interfacial chemistry and deposition control co-optimize surface energy and topography to deliver scalable superhydrophobic coatings without PFAS.

Copyright

© 2026 The Author(s)

Open Access

Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

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TY  - CONF
AU  - Mahesh Chaudhari
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/07/22
TI  - Spray-Deposited Fluorine-Free Polymer Coatings via Fatty-Acid/Oxide Interphases for Extreme Water Repellency
BT  - Proceedings of the International Conference on Sustainable Micro-Nano Materials & Innovative Technology (ICSUMMIT 2026)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 349
EP  - 362
SN  - 2589-4943
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-94-6239-727-9_26
DO  - 10.2991/978-94-6239-727-9_26
ID  - Chaudhari2026
ER  -