Preparing epoxy nano-hybrid coating materials for long-lasting protection of Chinese “Nuo mask” surface with high properties

• Published in: Chemical papers Vol. 78; no. 6; pp. 3773 - 3786
• Main Authors: Wu, Jianying, Dong, Yalin, Mao, Yonglu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01.04.2024; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Abrasion; Adhesive strength; Biochemistry; Biotechnology; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Chemistry/Food Science; Coatings; Color; Contact angle; Hydrophobicity; Industrial Chemistry/Chemical Engineering; Light transmittance; Materials Science; Medicinal Chemistry; Original Paper; Protective coatings; Silicon dioxide; Substrates; Surface roughness; Ultraviolet radiation; Wettability; Silica nanoparticles; PGMA homopolymer; Chinese masks; Surface coating
• ISSN: 0366-6352; 1336-9075; 2585-7290
• DOI: 10.1007/s11696-024-03347-z

Chinese Nuo mask is made up of wooden substrate and colorful paint, in which wooden substrate exhibits high hydrophilicity and paint cannot show a hydrophobicity. To achieve long-term non-destructive hydrophobic protection of Nuo mask surface, here, epoxy-based nanohybrid coatings were prepared. Poly(glycidyl methacrylate) (PGMA) matrix was used for strong interfacial adhesion and good transparency. Silica nanofiller was used for good weather resistance and high surface roughness. Here, PGMA/silica composite coatings on Nuo mask surfaces were prepared. The reduced water wettability and well-maintained color of coating/mask composite surfaces were verified. Strong abrasion and ultraviolet (UV) resistances of optimal coating/mask composite surface were found. Optimal PGMA/silica composite (2 wt% silica) has high light transmittance (> 89%), and hydrophobicity is achieved on optimal coating/mask composite surface with water static contact angle (SCA) of 93.1° ± 1.1°. This surface displays color difference (Δ E ) of 1.9 ± 0.1. This surface after 50 abrasion cycles (Δ E of 2.4 ± 0.1) still exhibits higher SCA (65.5° ± 1.1°) than untreated Nuo mask surface without abrasion (~ 32°). This surface after 24 h of UV exposure possesses SCA of 85.2° ± 1.3° with Δ E of 0.2 ± 0.1. This work enables long-lasting hydrophobic protection of traditional mask surfaces.