Facile UV-curable fabrication of robust, anti-icing superhydrophobic coatings based on polyurethane

Abstract A novel robust, anti-icing, self-cleaning superhydrophobic coating was prepared via a simple, environmentally, friendly and efficient strategy which bond nanoparticles SiO2 to the polyurethane surface under UV-curing. By controlling the content of nano-silica, a superhydrophobic coating with sliding angle (SA) of 2° and water contact angle (WCA) of 165° was constructed. The coating can be widely applied to various substrates with excellent anti-fouling properties and acid/alkali resistance. Meanwhile, the surface of coating is robust, can maintain superhydrophobic after 750 cycles of friction. In addition, the coating has a good anti-icing property which maintains excellent superhydrophobic after being placed at -10°C for 100 hours. Hence, the coating could be widely used on the surface of transmission lines and wind turbines.