Method to form a hydrophobic material to enhance surface hydrophobicity

摘要

A material capable of being applied to a surface is formed by: a) Providing precursors capable of reacting to form a gel. The precursors provided include at least water, a solvent and a metal alkoxide b) Reacting the precursors together to form a gel c) Adding a particulate material that is capable of chemically bonding with the gel to the gel to form a mixture. d) The mixture is treated so that a modified gel is formed in which the particulate material is bound to the gel. The modified gel is capable of forming a surface that is chemically hydrophobic and has a surface roughness. The surface roughness physically enhances the surface hydrophobicity so that water has a contact angle on the surface of at least 150o. A further step prior to step (d) can be included comprising mixing a polymer component and/or a surface modifier into the gel. The polymer component can bond with the gel and particulate material during step (d) and the surface modifier increases the intrinsic chemical hydrophobicity of a hydrophobic surface formed with the modified gel.