By Dr. David Smith
SilcoTek® is currently developing a new CVD deposition specifically designed to be highly hydrophobic, oleophobic, and thermally and oxidatively stable.
This type of coating should find application opportunities where high hydrophobicity is necessary,
Using Dursan® chemistry as a foundation, a prototype material has been developed to exhibit the highest level of hydrophobicity and oleophobicity of any SilcoTek coating. Tensiometer data showed an average advancing water contact angle of 125.1° and an average receding of 93.6°. Average equilibrium contact angle was 146.7° for a rough surface and 112.1° for a mirror surface.
Water droplet photographs illustrate the progression from hydrophilic to hydrophobic surfaces on the rough surface coupons. The extreme case for the Dursan prototype generated a contact angle of 163°.