Developing an Efficient Process for Creating a Hydrophobic Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-Based Coating for Polymer Substrates

This study will focus on the development of a streamlined process for the production of a hydrophobic PDMS-based polymer coating with protective properties suitable for various purposes. Graphene nanoplatelets and silica nanoparticles were added to the PDMS-based solution to enhance the hydrophobic properties and reduce the agglomeration of silica nanoparticles. Additionally, the coating will utilize acetone as a solvent to create a homogeneous mixture. The process developed for this coating will include a soft bake at 80℃ for 30 minutes and oven curing at 80℃ for 24 hours. The mechanical properties of the coating will be evaluated through three different experiments: UV aging, an acid immersion test, and a peel-off test. The water contact angle of the coating will be measured after each iteration of the experiment to determine the durability of the coating. Other characterization methods applied in this study include Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) to evaluate the composition and spraying method used in the experiment. The process developed from this study will create an efficient method of producing a hydrophobic protective coating with high light transmittance.