SUPERHYDROPHOBIC NANOFILM FOR AUTOMOTIVE INDUTRIES

EMMANUEL JOSEPH
MAHATMA GANDHI UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, MUTTOM
E-mail: polymermguce2012@gmail.com
ABSTRACT: Super hydrophobic films find a wide range of applications among which the
automotive industry is an important one. This proposal aims to fabricate a super hydrophobic
coating of PDMS and nano silica that can replace the wipers on the wind shield of automobiles.
PDMS is inherently hydrophobic and its hydrophobicity is enhanced by the addition of super
hydrophobic nano silica. The films are prepared by varying the silica content from 0.00phr to
0.01phr and analysed to find the optimum composition. Electrospinning method is used for
fabrication of composite films. The samples are characterized using scanning electron
microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and contact angle measurements.
The resultant films have self cleaning properties and will not compromise the transparency of
the wind shield.