In Situ Polymerization Approach to Graphene-Oxide-Reinforced Silicone Composites for Superior Anticorrosive Coating.

Novel graphene-oxide-reinforced silicone composites (GOSC) are prepared by in situ polymerization of silanes and low concentrations (<0.15 wt%) of silylated GO (SGO). After modification, the distances of the SGO nanosheets are successfully increased from 0.72 to 0.87 nm. Compared with GO, the SGO shows better dispersibility in organic solvents as well as remarkably enhanced decomposition temperature (T d improved by 100 °C). After covalently grafting onto silicone resins via in situ polymerization, the obtained GOSC exhibits greatly enhanced thermal stability (T d up to 400 °C and T g improved by 3-5 °C), increased storage modulus, loss modulus, and complex viscosity. The morphology, microstructure, interfacial adhesion of the developed GOSC coatings were carefully investigated. The GOSC coatings on metal exhibit good transparency (up to 90%), hydrophobicity, and excellent anticorrosion capability. This work provides a new strategy for developing high performance graphene-based silicone composite materials.

Water repellency on a fluorine-containing polyurethane surface: toward understanding the surface self-cleaning effect.

Surface geometrical microstructure and low surface free energy are the two most important factors for a self-cleaning surface. In this study, multiform geometrical microstructured surfaces were fabricated by casting and electrospinning polyurethanes with and without low surface energy segments. The effect of low surface energy on water repellency was evaluated. Low surface energy seems to make a more significant contribution to the static wetting behavior than do dynamic properties such as the improvement of sliding behavior. Sucking disk behavior was brought forward to explain the pinning state of a water droplet on hydrophobic surfaces with high water contact angles (>150 degrees ). A better understanding of the relationship between the static contact angle and the dynamic sliding property was provided.