Publication: Characterization of a superhydrophobic epoxidized natural rubber coating modified with stearic acid and calcium carbonate nanoparticles
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Date
2024-09-01
Authors
Farrah Amiera, Mohd Khairuddin
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Abstract
Waterproofing coatings have consistently garnered the attention of the global market to protect concrete surfaces against corrosion. This study compares the potential of epoxidized natural rubber 25 (ENR 25) and epoxidized natural rubber 50 (ENR 50) latexes with modified nanoparticles of calcium carbonate and stearic acid (CaCO3-SA) to develop a superhydrophobic (SH) latex coating. The optimal hydrophobically CaCO3-SA exhibited a maximum water contact angle (WCA) of 143.68 ± 13.6 ° by incorporating 7 wt.% of CaCO3 nanoparticles and 4 wt. % of SA through Layer-by-Layer (LbL) method. The non-blending ENR 25(CaCO3-SA)* latex coating revealed an excellent WCA value of 172.54 ° and the lowest roll-off angle (RA) of 6.9 ° at a curing temperature of 80 °C via the LbL immersion technique. With optimum curing in the non-blending of LbL, the ENR 25(CaCO3-SA)* surface coated created a hierarchical rough micro-nanostructure, compared to Room Temperature (RT). Greater water repellency of surface coated was determined at lower latex total solid content (TSC), 10 %. It also attained significant SH and superoleophilic properties through oil/water separation efficiency. The lower epoxy content found in ENR 25(CaCO3-SA)* compared to the non-blending modification of ENR 50 which was determined from the FTIR spectrum. The optimum modified nanoparticles and ENR latex were mixed and carried out with different coating techniques (immersion and spray). The SH properties were impeccably improved with a WCA of 156.48 ± 2.90 ° and water easily rolled off on the air-assisted airless spray concrete-coated cured at RT in the pre-vulcanization blending system. Hence, the facile technique of SH latex coating was achieved.