Preparation, Characterization and Performance Properties of Polydodecylmethylsilsesquioxane Nanoparticles

Abstract

A series of polydodecylmethylsilsesquioxane (PDMSQ) nanocomposite latexes were prepared via emulsion polymerization of methyltriethoxysilane (MTES) and dodecyltrimethoxysilane (DTMS) and sodium hydroxide as the catalyst, and sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate/Tween 80 as the mixed emulsifiers. Effects of the emulsifier doses, the reaction temperature, the catalyst concentration and the oil/water ratio on the particle size and distribution of the PDMSQ nanoparticles were discussed. Particle size and micromorphology, structure, thermal stability, crystallinity and hydrophobicity of PDMSQ nanoparticles (PDMSQ NPs) were investigated by dynamic laser scattering (DLS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), silicon-nuclear magnetic resonance (28Si-NMR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscope (XPS), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), atomic force microscope (AFM), thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and contact angle tester. Results showed that a series of PDMSQ NPs could be obtained with an average particle size of less than 80 nm and narrow distribution as well as spherical structure under the optimal process conditions. PDMSQ NPs exhibited excellent thermal stability and were mainly amorphous but also contained some crystal structures. Importantly, the static water contact angles (WCAs) on its latex films were larger than 150° and the WCAs hysteresis were less than 10°, thus those PDMSQ nanocomposite latexes show potential in the field of superhydrophobic coatings.