Preparation and characterization of superhydrophobic silica-based surfaces by using polypropylene glycol and tetraethoxysilane precursors

Preparation of superhydrophobic silica-based surfaces via sol–gel process by adding polypropylene glycol (PPG) polymer into the precursor solution has been developed. Surface roughness of the films was obtained by removing the organic polymer at 500 °C and then the hydrophobic groups bonded onto the films were obtained by chemical reaction with hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS). Physical properties of the as-prepared films were analyzed by contact angle measurements, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UV–VIS scanning spectrophotometer and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrophotometer. The experimental parameters were varied by the type of silane species, the weight ratio of PPG solution to precursor solution, the hydrolysis time of the precursor solution, the molecular weight of PPG, the casting temperature and the evaporation temperature. The phase separation of the PPG polymer rich domain occurred on the substrates at a lower temperature. The result showed that the contact angles of the films prepared at 5 °C were greater than 150° when the weight ratio of PPG solution to precursor solution was 5. In addition, the transmittance of the films was greater than 80% simultaneously.