Obtaining hydrophobic coatings from AR+HMDSO using radiofrequency discharge at atmospheric pressure

Abstract

Hydrophobic coatings have attracted much attention due to their wide applications in various industries including electronics, textiles, and automotive. This study deals with the process of creating nanoscale coatings on a substrate achieved by plasma polymerization using plasma flow (jet) using radiofrequency discharge together with the precursor c6h18osi2 and the carrier gas Ar. In this work, we investigate the production of hydrophobic coatings using radiofrequency (RF) discharge at atmospheric pressure using a mixture of argon (Ar) and hexamethyldisiloxane (HMDSO). RF discharge is a versatile and efficient method of plasma generation that allows the deposition of thin films with defined properties. Here we investigate the influence of process parameters such as gas flow rate, discharge power, and substrate temperature on the morphology, chemistry, and hydrophobicity of the deposited coatings. The formation of these coatings was carefully studied under atmospheric pressure conditions, varying the number of cycles of experiments while maintaining optimal plasma parameters. The properties and elemental composition of the coatings were thoroughly studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersion spectroscopy (EDS). In addition, the obtained coatings were found to possess hydrophobic properties. The hydrophobicity of these coatings was evaluated by measuring the contact angle with a goniometer with respect to cycles of experiments and long-term durability. This study contributes to a better understanding of the synthesis, structure, and hydrophobic characteristics of nanoscale coatings, opening promising perspectives for various applications. The results show that the hydrophobicity of the coatings can be optimized by tuning the process parameters, resulting in coatings with water contact angles greater than 160 degrees. Additionally, the durability and stability of the hydrophobic coatings are evaluated under different environmental conditions, allowing an assessment of their potential for practical applications.

Keywords: plasma polymerization, atmospheric pressure, superhydrophobic coatings.