Patent Description:
The present subject matter relates, in general, hydrophobic coating, and, in particular, composition and method for preparation of hydrophobic coating.

In general, several nano composite based coating formulations are developed. However, there are no standardized synthesis procedure for developing the coating formulation. As a result the coating formulations are often unstable and the coatings produced by conventional procedures are not durable. For example, coating formulation such as hydrophobic coatings may be developed from many different materials like Manganese oxide polystyrene (MnO<NUM>/PS), nano-composite Zinc oxide polystyrene (ZnO/PS), nano-composite Precipitated calcium carbonate, Carbon nano-tube structures, silica nano-coating, Fluorinated silanes and Fluor polymer coatings and the like. Out of these materials, silica-based coatings are most cost effective to use, since they are gel-based and can be easily applied either by dipping substrate to be coated into the gel or via aerosol spray. Therefore, the silica-based gels remain the most economically viable option in the state of the art.

Also, the current state of the art silica-based coating formulations are hindered in terms of weak durability thereby making it unsuitable for most of the applications. The applications include, but not limited to coating on buildings, solar panels, automobiles, household appliances which may need no frequent cleaning. Some of the recently developed coatings on surface textures such as stainless steel are extremely durable and permanently hydrophobic. Even though, optically these surfaces appear as a uniform matter surface but microscopically they consist of rounded depressions of <NUM>-<NUM> microns deep over <NUM>% to <NUM>% of the coated surface. Hence there is a need for developing a standardized procedure for preparing coating formulations to overcome the drawbacks of the state of the art methods.

<CIT> disclose methods for preparing super abrasive nano-titanium porcelain coating, are as follows: Nano silicon dioxide, nano-titanium oxide are carried out silicic acid anhydride with silane under catalysts conditions, obtain a nanometer titanium porcelain resin by step <NUM>; Step <NUM> will be added titanium alloy fiber, filler and pigment and disperse in high speed dispersor, you can obtain finished product in nanometer titanium porcelain resin. Its main film forming matter of super abrasive nano-titanium porcelain coating and binder prepared by the present invention is nanometer titanium porcelain resin, the main component of nanometer titanium porcelain resin is nano silicon dioxide, titanium dioxide, have the characteristics that super abrasive, high rigidity, antifouling, fire prevention, waterproof, ageing-resistant, antibacterial, is particularly suitable for public building inner-outer wall and ground.

<NPL>" discloses layered mesostructured silicates and aluminosilicates with covalently attached hexadecyl groups (denoted as C16-LMS, C16-LMAS, and a sample with layers whose thickness was increased by additional silicate, C16-SiO2-LMAS) were investigated as synthetic clays for dispersion and exfoliation in polymer melts. The dispersion of these clays in <NUM> organic solvents and their performance in polystyrene (PS) nanocomposites were examined. The three synthetic clays dispersed and formed gels in aromatic solvents and in a branched alkyl solvent (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>-tetramethylpentadecane, TMPD) based on visual observations and rheology. The elastic moduli (G') of the toluene/clay dispersions for all three clays were similar when compared at equal inorganic content. The synthetic clays were blended with PS samples of various molecular weights. Melt rheology of the PS/clay nanocomposites showed a dramatic increase in elastic modulus compared with neat PS and formation of a G' plateau at low frequencies. The plateau occurred at higher G' values for C16-LMAS than for C16-SiO2-LMAS or C16-LMS, indicating that C16-LMAS has higher strength and/or higher aspect ratio and can thus withstand the stresses of melt mixing. Increasing the molecular weight of PS increased G" of the PS/ C16-LMAS nanocomposites. By small angle X-ray (SAXS) and transmission electron microscopy C16-LMAS showed better dispersion and a higher aspect ratio in the PS-nanocomposite than C16-SiO2-LMAS.

<NPL>" discloses motivated by a need for synthetic clays that can be dispersed and exfoliated in polymer melts without added compatibilizers, lamellar mesostructured silicates and aluminosilicates with covalently attached hexadecyl functional groups (C16-LMS and C16-LMAS, respectively) were prepared by sol-gel syntheses and their structures were characterized. Based on XRD and TEM data, lamellar products with layer spacings of <NUM>-<NUM> were obtained between room temperature and <NUM> (C16-LMS) or <NUM> (C16-LMAS). The degree of condensation of the aluminosilicate layers increased at the higher synthesis temperatures. Attachment of organic groups to the inorganic sheets was confirmed by <NUM>°Si solid state MAS NMR and IR spectroscopy. The sheets of C16-LMS consisted of single or double layers of tetrahedral silicate groups, each attached to a hexadecyl chain. C16-LMAS was composed of pyrophyllite-like layers (Si: Al=<NUM>) with an octahedral aluminum layer sandwiched between two tetrahedral silicate layers and hexadecyl surface groups. Tetrahedral aluminum sites were also present. The clay layer spacing could be increased to <NUM> by addition of tetraethoxysilanes during the synthesis (C16-SiO2-LMAS). C16-SiO2-LMAS was structurally similar to C16-LMAS; however, the presence of additional silicate groups in this structure increased the inorganic layer thickness and introduced further structural disorder.

The following presents a simplified summary of the disclosure in order to provide a basic understanding of the embodiments. This summary is not an extensive overview of the embodiments. It is not intended to identify key/critical elements of the embodiments or to delineate the scope of the embodiments.

Although embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein, the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary and it should be understood that the present embodiments relates to many alternative forms. Furthermore, the figures are not drawn to scale and some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular features while related elements may have been eliminated. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for enabling someone skilled in the art to employ the present embodiments in a variety of manner. For purposes of instruction and not limitation, the illustrated embodiments are all directed to embodiments of composition(s) and method(s) for hydrophobic coating compositions.

The embodiments herein will be better understood from the following detailed description with reference to the drawings, in which:.

The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein.

Furthermore, the figures are not drawn to scale and some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular features while related elements may have been eliminated to prevent obscuring novel aspects. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for enabling someone skilled in the art to employ the present invention in a variety of manner. For purposes of instruction and not limitation, the illustrated embodiments are all directed to embodiments of coating formulations and for coating compositions for producing hydrophobic or super-hydrophobic surfaces and, and to methods or processes for producing such coating composition.

As used herein, the term "about", when used in conjunction with ranges of dimensions of sizes of particles or other physical properties, temperatures or other chemical characteristics, is meant to cover slight variations that may exist in the upper and lower limits of the ranges of dimensions of particles so as to not exclude embodiments where on average most of the dimensions are satisfied but where statistically dimensions may exist outside this region. It is not the intention to exclude embodiments such as these from the present disclosure.

According to an embodiment of the present subject matter, composition(s) and method(s) for synthesis of hydrophobic coating are described. The present disclosure provides one pot process for development of coating formulation. The present method(s)'s reagent concentrations are optimized to provide higher yield of nano composite without losing the functionalities of the coating composition.

As mentioned earlier, there are several nano composite based coating formulations in the art. However, there is a lack of standardized procedure of preparation of the coating formulations with a simple one pot synthesis procedure. Also, the formulations developed in the state of the art are often unstable and thus the coatings produced therefrom are not durable. Especially, bird dropping creates nuisance when automotive vehicles painted with such coatings are parked in open parking. These bird's dropping contains uric acid which is highly corrosive and degrade paint layer on the vehicles because of its acidic nature. Therefore, a coating which does not adhere to these bird's dropping is imperative. The present disclosure provides a method to produce such formulations which are stable and upon coating these coatings have good scratch hardness, transparency, super hydrophobicity, self-cleaning and anti-corrosive properties. In view of the foregoing, the present embodiments provide nano composite based coating formulation. In one of the embodiments an alumina - silica - resin based nano composite is developed in one step by sol gel method.

In general, nano particles are synthesized in different ways, which are broadly classified as Top-Down approach and Bottom-Up approach. The former method involves reducing large scale particles into nano-scale and latter deals with building up of nano-structures from atoms and molecules. The Top-Down approach is slow and costlier compared to Bottom-Up approach. Sol-Gel process, type of Bottom-Up approach has been used in the present embodiments for synthesizing the silica and alumina nano-particles. The Sol-Gel process is a process in which solid particles are dispersed in a liquid (sol) and agglomerate to form continuous three dimensional network extending throughout the liquid (gel). This process involves hydrolysis, condensation, gelation, aging and drying. In the Sol-Gel process, metal alkoxides and metal chlorides are commonly used precursors, which undergo hydrolysis and poly condensation reactions to form a colloid (gel).

In view of the foregoing, one of the embodiments provides nano composite based coating formulation. In said embodiment, an alumina - silica - resin based nano composite is developed in one step by sol gel method in a pot/container. In said embedment, precursors of each element that is silica and alumina are added one by one and upon hydrolysis and condensation, nanoparticles were produced. To increase hydrophobicity, alkyl alkoxy silane based precursor has been added. These are then dispersed in resin, for example, liquid PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene). Thus produced formulation is coated on glass and metal surface by simple dip, spray and spin coating process. The coating showed contact angle greater than <NUM> degree and very low roll off angle for a water droplet as well as corrosion resistance. Presence of alumina rendered good scratch hardness without losing transparency.

The present invention provides a hydrophobic coating composition and a process of making the hydrophobic coating composition.

The hydrophobic coating composition according to the present invention includes a formulation of alumina - silica based nano composite and a resin onto which the formulation is dispersed to form the hydrophobic coating composition. In an example embodiment ratio of the resin and the formulation is in the range of about <NUM> to <NUM> wt %. The formulation includes silica nano-particles derived from TetraEthoxySilane (TEOS) as a precursor and HexaDecylTriMethoxySilane (HDTMS) as an organic modifier. In an example, the ratio of HexaDecylTriMethoxySilane and TetraEthoxySilane (TEOS) is in the range of about <NUM> to <NUM>. The HDTMS induces hydrophobicity into the nano composite and agglomerate silica particles. The formulation further includes ammonia as catalyst and aluminum iso propoxide as a precursor for synthesis of alumina.

In an example embodiment, the catalyst may be a pH modifier. For example, the catalyst may be one of ammonia and sodium hydroxide. The obtained hybrid nano composite particles are characterized for shape and size by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM).

In said one example embodiment, the resin may be one of Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polychloroethene (PVC), polystyrene (PS), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polyamide (PA), polycarbonates (PC), polyphenylene oxide (PPO), polyurethane (PU), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyacrylate, polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), nylon, and mixtures thereof. The preceding experimental results and the illustrative graphs shows the varying percentage concentration of resin and functionalities of such composition.

In an example embodiment, the precursor for silica may be a silane. The silane as precursor for silica may be one of alkyl, alkoxy silane tetraethyl orthosilicate, methyl triethoxysilane, aminoalkyl and triethoxysilane. The silane as precursor for alumina may be one of aluminum iso propoxide, aluminum isobutoxide, aluminum ethoxide, and aluminum chloride. In another example embodiment, the organic modifier is a silane. The silane as organic modifier may one of alkylsilane, dialkylsilane, polyalkylsilane, organochlorosilane, organodichlorosilane, organopolychlorosilane, and oxalkylsilanes.

The hydrophobic coating composition may be applied on to a surface in form of a powder, spray or paint using one of the coating techniques. For example, coating techniques may be one of simple dip, spray or spin coating process. The hydrophobic coating composition is super hydrophobic with a contact angle of greater than <NUM> degree and sliding angle in the rage of about <NUM> to <NUM> degree. As will be described in the succeeding paragraphs, the effect of rpm (revolutions per minute) of the spin coating is measured and the observations are captured as shown in the experimental results and in the graphical illustrations.

The following describes the methods employing the hydrophobic coating compositions to achieve the above listed characteristics. Those should, however, only be considered examples but not as limiting the scope of disclosed embodiments.

Referring now to <FIG>, a flow diagram <NUM> for a method for preparation of hydrophobic coating is illustrated. <FIG> shows various steps of preparation of hydrophobic coating composition in a single container/one pot. At step <NUM> and <NUM>, a mixture of ethanol and ammonia solution was formed by mixing <NUM> the mixture in a container/pot to form a homogenous solution. At step <NUM>, a predetermined amount of TetraEthoxySilane (TEOS) is added drop wise to the homogenous solution. At step <NUM>, a predetermined amount of catalysts (a pH modified) is added to the homogenous solution in the container and mixed thoroughly. Thereafter at step <NUM>, HexaDecylTriMethoxySilane (HDTMS) is also added drop wise to the homogenous solution to obtain a primary mixture. At step <NUM>, the primary mixture is mixed for a certain period of time. In an example embodiment, the primary mixture is mixed for about <NUM> minutes and at a rate of about <NUM> rpm. The primary mixture is then condensed to obtain hydrophobic silica particles.

In an example embodiment, the temperature of the hydrophobic silica particles is maintained at about <NUM> degree Celsius and for about <NUM> minutes. Herein, step at <NUM>, aluminum isopropoxide and water is added to the hydrophobic silica particles in the same container to obtain a secondary mixture. At <NUM>, the secondary mixture is mixed by stirring for about <NUM> hours. Thereafter, at <NUM> and <NUM>, the secondary mixture is dispersed in one or more resins. The resin used in the present claimed subject matter may include chloroform and PTFE <NUM> and Polyurethane <NUM> and to obtain PTFE based coating composition <NUM> and <NUM> respectively and a combination of PU and PTFE is prepared to obtain a coating composition of super hydrophobicity (as may inferred from the experimental results herein).

In an alternative embodiment, HDTMS may be added drop wise to alumina-silica mixture and epoxy based coating formulation to render the hydrophobicity to the coated surface. Herein, HDTMS induces hydrophobicity into the nano composite and agglomerate silica particles. The alumina nanoparticles formulation herein is produced by ball milling (by top down approach) and, silica nanoparticles were produced by sol-gel method. Such coating also demonstrates scratch resistant and hydrophobicity. One of the primary advantages of using epoxy-based resin in the coating formulation is that such coated surfaces have good transparency.

In accordance with the present disclosure, various designs of experiments were conducted to arrive at an optimum composition. The design of experiments includes varying the percentage of one or more resins and process parameters of the composition(s) and method(s) of the present embodiments. Thus, one pot synthesis of the hydrophobic coating formulation, in accordance with the present embodiment, gives a higher yield of nano composite without losing the functionalities of the final coating composition by optimizing reagent concentrations. The functionalities of the composition(s), in accordance with the present embodiments are described in the <FIG> and <FIG>.

Referring now to <FIG> illustrating a SEM (Scanning Electronic Microscope) micrograph of nanoparticles associated with a method for preparation of hydrophobic coating, in accordance with an example embodiment of the present disclosure. <FIG> shows that particle size achieved is about <NUM>± <NUM> (standard deviation) nm. The particle size measured by ImageJ software suggests uniform particle size. And, the silica nano particles are in the range of about <NUM> to <NUM>.

Referring now to <FIG> illustrating contact angle of hydrophobic surface, herein namely, steel and glass substrate using varying percentage concentration of resin and nanoparticle, associated with a method for preparation of hydrophobic coating in accordance with an example embodiment of the present disclosure. <FIG> shows varying percentage concentration of Polyurethane (PU), Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and nano-particle composite (Np). The coating composition containing varying percentage was applied on substrates, for example, glass and steel using spin coating process. For each of the hydrophobic coating composition containing varying percentage concentration of PU, PTFE and Np, contact angle is measured. The contact angles for the hydrophobic surfaces for present embodiments ranges from about <NUM> degree to <NUM> degree (As shown in <FIG>).

Referring to <FIG> illustrating sliding angle/roll off angle of hydrophobic surface, herein namely, steel and glass substrate using varying percentage concentration of resin and nanoparticle, associated with a method for preparation of hydrophobic coating in accordance with an example embodiment of the present disclosure. <FIG> includes varying percentage concentration of Polyurethane (PU), Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and nano-particle composite (Np) (Same combination as shown in <FIG>). The coating composition containing varying percentage was applied on substrates, for example, glass and steel using spin coating process. For each of the hydrophobic coating composition containing varying percentage concentration of PU, PTFE and Np, sliding angle is measured. <FIG> shows series of images from a video capturing the behavior of the water droplet on the hydrophobic coating, in accordance with the present embodiments. The series of images are time stamped, for example, images taken at <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> to show the sliding angle of the water drop let on the surface. The sliding angle ranges from about <NUM> to <NUM> degree.

In one embodiment, the hydrophobic coating composition prepared through the methods described herein is a one pot (one container) by sol gel method. In general, when nanoparticles are produced in two different medium separately, they often don't mix properly and suspension become unstable and phase separates. The one pot synthesis as described in the present embodiments leads to formation of nanoparticles at same condition such as pH, ionic strength which are more compatible with each other and hence stable. The compositions and the methods of the present embodiments are further validated with the experimental results in the succeeding paragraphs.

The one pot process of the hydrophobic coating formulation, in accordance with the present embodiment, gives a higher yield of nano composite without losing the functionalities of the final coating composition by optimizing reagent concentrations. The hydrophobic coating composition, in accordance with the present embodiment is a single pot synthesis which gives good adhesion without changing the texture of surface (substrate) on which it is applied. For example, the produced formulation is coated on any substrate like glass and metal surface using one of simple dip, spray and spin coating process. The coating showed contact angle greater than <NUM> degree and very low roll off angle for a water droplet as well as corrosion resistance. Also, presence of alumina in the nano composite renders good scratch hardness without losing transparency.

The results of methods for preparation of hydrophobic coating have been validated using following examples. It will be understood that the examples discussed herein are only for the purpose of explanation and not to limit the scope of the present subject matter. Further, the test results are shown for a specific example of hydrophobic coating and should in no way be construed as the only stable hydrophobic coating that can be formed through the described method.

In an embodiment, silica nano-particles was prepared based on Stober method using TetraEthoxySilane (TEOS) as the starting material in a single pot/container. The Stober method was used to prepare mono-dispersed silica particles using sol-gel process. Silica particles with a diameter of about <NUM> to a few µm were prepared by using the Stober method. In said embodiment, alumina nano-particles were synthesized using aluminum iso propoxide as the precursor in sol-gel process. In the present embodiment, synthesis of silica-alumina nano-particles was carried out using TetraEthoxySilane (TEOS) and HexaDecylTriMethoxySilane (HDTMS) as the precursors. Thereafter, ammonia was added as catalyst followed by addition of aluminum propoxide and stirred for <NUM> hours. In said embodiment, silica nano-particles were derived from TetraEthoxySilane (TEOS) precursor with HexaDecylTriMethoxySilane (HDTMS) as organic modifier. Herein, the HDTMS induces hydrophobicity by reducing the surface free energy of nanoparticle surface and also acts a bonding agent between silica particles and glass substrate.

In said embodiment, <NUM> of Ethanol was mixed in a container with <NUM> of ammonium hydroxide solution to obtain a homogeneous solution with magnetic stirring for <NUM> minutes at <NUM>. Thereafter, <NUM> of TetraEthoxySilane (TEOS) was added to the homogeneous solution drop wise with constant stirring at the same temperature for <NUM> hours. To the homogenous solution catalyst, namely ammonia, was added with continuous mixing. Thereafter, <NUM>% of HexaDecylTriMethoxySilane (HDTMS) was added drop wise with continuous stirring. The mixture was further stirred for about <NUM> hours at the same temperature to form a hydrophobic silica nano particles. To the nano particles, <NUM> gm of aluminum isopropoxide and <NUM> of distilled water was added and further stirred for <NUM> hrs. In order to disperse in the desired resin (example: PTFE, PU or PDMS) required quantity of formulation was added to the resin along with chloroform or a suitable diluent.

The formulation was used in coating on various surface such as glass, stainless steel, martensitic steel and the like. The formulation was applied using dip coating, spray coating and spin coating process were used to coat the substrate uniformly. The hydrophobic coatings formed using the aforementioned experiments were characterized using different equipment to measure. The experiments were conducted for varying concentration of PTFE, Np (nano-particle) for different rpm (of spin coating). The PTFE wt% are <NUM>, <NUM> and 17wt%, The Np% are <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> wt% and the rpm are <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>. Following characteristic of hydrophobic coating was measured as per ASTM, ISO standards, namely,.

Contact angle: The contact angle is one important value that reveals if the surface is hydrophobic or hydrophilic or super hydrophobic. For example, if the contact angle is > <NUM> degree then the coated surface is termed as hydrophobic, if the contact angle is > <NUM> degree then the coated surface is super-hydrophobic. The contact angle is conventionally measured at a liquid-vapor interface on a solid surface. In general, the contact angle is measured using Goniometer equipment. In the present example, Nikon® Camera was used to capture the 10µl distilled water droplet on the surface coated with the formulation of the present example. The contact angle was measured in ImageJ software and it was observed that measurement made in here resulted in values similar to those obtained using Goniometer.

In an example embodiment commercial PTFE, PU, PDMS are used as combination of one or more resins for dispersing the formulation. The commercial PTFE, PU, PDMS exhibited contact angles of <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>° respectively. However coating composition, in accordance with the present embodiment provides contact angles more than <NUM> and hence are super hydrophobic (As shown in <FIG>).

Referring now to <FIG> illustrating a graphical representation of effect of rpm (revolutions per minute), varying percentage concentration of resin and nanoparticle on contact angle associated with composition and method for preparation of hydrophobic coating, in accordance with an example embodiment of the present disclosure. <FIG> shows the contact angles are in the range of <NUM> to <NUM> degree suggesting hydrophobic coating. The hydrophobicity is induced due to the presence of nano-particles on the surface. It may be inferred from <FIG>, that with increase in nano-particle concentration, the contact angle is increasing clearly showing nano-particles are the major factors to induce hydrophobicity. On the other hand, the effect of PTFE on contact angle may not be clearly deduced.

Roll of angle/sliding angle: The roll of angle is defined as an angle at which water droplet starts sliding down the surface. Roll of angle is lesser if the droplet sits on the roughness pillars and in absence of air between droplet and surface. In the present example, to measure roll of angle, 10µl distilled water droplet was used at different parts on the slide. In a preferred embodiment commercial PTFE, PU, PDMS were used as resin. The commercial PTFE, PU, PDMS exhibited sliding angles of <NUM> to <NUM> depending upon the substrate. The hydrophobic coating formulation, in accordance with the present embodiment, provides sliding angles less than <NUM> and zero in some cases. In general, lower sliding angle is desirable for self-cleaning, anti-fouling and anti-corrosion properties.

Referring now to <FIG> illustrating a graphical representation of effect of rpm (revolutions per minute), varying percentage concentration of resin and nanoparticle on roll of angle associated with a method for preparation of hydrophobic coating, in accordance with an example embodiment of the present disclosure. <FIG> shows that <NUM> wt. % of nano-particles have lesser roll of angle when compared to other concentrations. Low roll of angle is observed when the droplet is suspended on top of roughness (pillars) or hierarchical microstructure created by nanoparticles. As shown in <FIG> the effect of PTFE %, Np % (Nano-particle) and rpm in spin coating on roll off angle ranges from <NUM> to <NUM> degree.

Scratch resistance: In general the scratch resistance (hardness) measures the resistance of materials to permanent or plastic deformation. Scratch hardness test measures the hardness of a material to scratches and abrasion due to friction from a sharp object. Carbide indenter was used to scratch the coatings at different loads and the scratch lengths were measured using<MAT>.

Herein, the addition of alumina nanoparticles to the coating composition helps in scratch resistant. Due to this, the length and load at which coating fails is increased. Referring now to <FIG> illustrating a graphical representation of effect of rpm (revolutions per minute), varying percentage concentration of resin and nanoparticle on scratch hardness length associated with composition and method for preparation of hydrophobic coating, in accordance with an example embodiment of the present disclosure. <FIG> shows that <NUM> wt. % nano-particle concentration was used as it offers better scratch hardness compared to other wt. It may be inferred from the graphical presentation of effect of rpm, nanoparticle concentration and PTFE % on scratch hardness length that <NUM> wt. % of PTFE offers better scratch hardness than <NUM> wt. % and <NUM> wt. It is observed that the substrate coated with the hydrophobic coating composition has a scratch hardness more than <NUM> of scratch load.

Adhesion: Adhesion of coatings was measured using ASTM D <NUM> tape test. This is a standard test for measuring adhesion of coatings using tape test. The test assesses the adhesion of film coatings to metallic substrates by applying and removing pressure-sensitive tape over cuts made in the film. The test method is also known as the "Cross Hatch test". In this test, cross cuts were made and the tape was applied to the coated substrate and removed. The appearance of surface of cross-cut area from which flaking has occurred was analyzed to enumerate the percentage of adhesion.

Referring now to <FIG> illustrating a graphical representation of effect of rpm (revolutions per minute), varying percentage concentration of resin and nanoparticle on percentage adhesion associated with composition and method for preparation of hydrophobic coating, in accordance with an example embodiment of the present disclosure. <FIG> shows that adhesion and transparency was maintained even after addition of nanoparticles and the substrate coated with the hydrophobic coating composition has adhesion as high as 5B or <NUM> %. <FIG> shows that the effect of rpm, nanoparticle concentration and PTFE % on % adhesion, and it may be observed that with increase in rpm, the adhesion also increases.

Film Thickness: Stylus profilometer was used to measure the film thickness. During measurement, a diamond-tipped stylus directly contacts the surface and follows height variations as the sample was moved. The height variations were converted into electrical signals, producing a profile. The resulting trace represents a cross-sectional view with high vertical and spatial resolution. The stylus traces the irregularities on the surface.

Referring now to <FIG> illustrating a graphical representation of effect of rpm (revolutions per minute), varying percentage concentration of resin and nanoparticle on film thickness associated with composition and method for preparation of hydrophobic coating, in accordance with an example embodiment of the present disclosure. <FIG> shows that the primary reason for increase in adhesion is due to reduction in the thickness. Therefore, due to less thickness, less internal stresses exist between the coating and substrate surface leading to better adhesion. Thus, <FIG> and <FIG> evidently indicate correlation between thickness and adhesion of coatings.

Transparency: Transparency of the coatings was measured using UV-VIS spectrometer. In a preferred embodiment, transmittance was measured between <NUM>-<NUM> wavelength and <NUM> wide slit. Transmittance was calculated by integrating the absorbance values.

Referring now to <FIG> illustrating a graphical representation of effect of rpm (revolutions per minute), varying percentage concentration of resin and nanoparticle on percentage of transparency associated with composition and method for preparation of hydrophobic coating, in accordance with an example embodiment of the present disclosure. <FIG> shows that all the coated samples showed relatively poor transparency, nevertheless. The loss in transparency can be attributed to presence of PTFE. Herein, the coated surfaces are characterized for transparency, to study the effect of composition on transparency.

Thus, the present subject matter provides hydrophobic coatings which have the characteristics and functionalities of a super hydrophobic composition. The present disclosure provides a procedure to produce such formulations which are stable and upon coating these coatings have good scratch hardness, transparency, super hydrophobicity, self-cleaning and anti-corrosive properties. As shown in the experimental results the hydrophobic coating composition shows super hydrophobicity characteristics which is ideal for many applications in the industries.

Although implementations for preparation of nanoparticles has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methods, it is to be understood that the appended claims are not necessarily limited to the specific features or methods described. Rather, the specific features and methods are disclosed as examples and implementations for synthesis of nanoparticles. The order in which the method(s) are described is not intended to be construed as a limitation.

Claim 1:
A hydrophobic coating composition comprising:
a formulation of alumina- silica based nano composite, the formulation comprising:
silica nano-particles derived from TetraEthoxySilane (TEOS) as a precursor for silica and HexaDecylTriMethoxySilane (HDTMS) as an organic modifier, wherein ratio of TEOS and HDTMS is in the range of about <NUM> to <NUM>,
aluminum iso propoxide as a precursor for alumina,
ammonia as a catalyst, wherein the catalyst is a pH modifier; and
one or more resin onto which the formulation is dispersed to form the hydrophobic coating composition, wherein ratio of the resin and the formulation is in the range of about <NUM> to <NUM> wt %.