AVS 62nd International Symposium & Exhibition
    Advanced Surface Engineering Tuesday Sessions
       Session SE+PS+SM-TuM

Paper SE+PS+SM-TuM1
Synthesis of Hybrid Nanoparticles - Fluorinated (Super)Hydrophobic Coatings by Atmospheric Plasma : Possibilities and Challenges

Tuesday, October 20, 2015, 8:00 am, Room 212A

Session: Atmospheric Pressure Plasmas, CVD and Other Deposition Methods
Presenter: François Reniers, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium
Authors: J. Mertens, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium
J. Hubert, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium
N. Vandencasteele, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium
F.A.B. Reniers, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium
Correspondent: Click to Email
In order to obtain superhydrophobic coatings, one has to combine a low surface energy surface with a specific roughness. We propose a simple method to obtain such coatings by depositing by atmospheric plasma fluorinated coatings starting from C6F12 or C6F14 in argon or helium onto surfaces previously decorated with SiO2 or TiO2 nanoparticles. The loading (concentration) and size of nanoparticles were varied, as well as the plasma parameters (nature of the process gas and precursor, plasma power, deposition time). Depending on the experimental parameters, coatings exhibiting water contact angles from 110° to more than 160° could be obtained. The mechanisms for the polymer synthesis have been studied by a combination of atmospheric mass spectrometry and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and the influence of the process gas on the final chemical structure of the coating is evidenced and explained. A higher fragmentation pattern is shown for Argon, due to the higher electron density and the higher energy available in the filamentary discharge. This is responsible for a change in the CF2 and CF3 moieties in the final coating. Similarly, the nature of the oxide nanoparticles has a strong influence on the chemistry of the coating: whereas SiO2 particles do not modify the CFx films, the TiO2 nanoparticles contribute to a significant degradation of the chemistry of the coating. This method can easily be implemented on any industrial process line, provided a good adhesion of the final coating on the subtrate is obtained.