Surface-Enriched Amphiphilic Polysiloxane Coating with Superior Antifouling Ability and Strong Substrate Adhesion
Zhenqiang Zhang, Qingyi Xie, Guoliang Zhang, Chunfeng Ma, Guangzhao Zhang
Abstract
The coexistence of superior antifouling ability and strong substrate adhesion is a typical trade-off for a silicone coating but is highly desirable in numerous applications. Herein, we present a surface-enriched antifouling coating consisting of a bis-silane-terminated polyurea (SPU), an oligosiloxane nanocluster, and a bi-silanol-terminated poly(dimethylsiloxane) with fluorocarbon and poly(ethylene glycol) side chains as a reactive amphiphilic polymer (RAP). The oligosiloxane nanoclusters can cross-link the flexible SPU into a tough polymer network and interlink the polymer network to the substrate, whereas the low-surface-energy RAP can self-enrich on the surface during coating formation. Such a polysiloxane coating exhibits high transparency (>85% transmittance), high tensile strength (∼12 MPa), superior fouling resistance against proteins and bacteria, and strong adhesion strength on various substrates including glass, ceramic, steel, Ti, and epoxy (3–15 MPa). This research provides a universal and tunable approach for the future design of antifouling coatings in flexible electronics, medical devices, and marine industries.