Preparation of Self-Healing Antifogging Hard Coatings Using Carboxy-Functionalized Polysilsesquioxanes and Oligo(ethylene glycol)s
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Water-resistant antifogging hard coatings possessing self-healing properties were successfully prepared by applying N,N-dimethylformamide solutions containing the mixtures of carboxy-functionalized polysilsesquioxane (PSQ-2C) with oligo(ethylene glycol)s (OEGs; n = 2–6 and n = 2–4) at the feed functional group ratios (carboxy groups in PSQ-2C/hydroxy groups in OEG) of 10:1 and 4:1, respectively, onto oxygen plasma–treated glass substrates, followed by heat drying, water immersion, and room-temperature drying. The formation of ester bonds in the resulting coatings, indicating the presence of a cross-linked structure, was confirmed via Fourier-transform infrared/attenuated total reflectance spectroscopy. Notably, the coating prepared using PSQ-2C and tetraethylene glycol (OEG; n = 4) at a feed functional group ratio of 10:1 demonstrated no peeling or dissolution even after water immersion for 1 h, and its surface hardness, which was evaluated via the pencil scratch test, was 4H. Additionally, when exposed to water vapor generated from warm water at 40 °C at a distance of 2 cm, the coating maintained transparency for up to 85 s, confirming its excellent antifogging performance. Finally, the coating exhibited self-healing properties, as evidenced by the disappearance of scratches induced by a 5H pencil when the coating was left standing at 25 °C and 30% relative humidity for 5 min.
Source: Polymers
Authors: Seiya Morinaga, Rione Baba, Chino Fujii, Yoshiro Kaneko
Institution: Kagoshima University
Language: English
Subfield: Materials Chemistry
Field: Materials Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,258
OpenAlex ID: W4414199937