Facile one-step fabrication of highly hydrophobic medium density fiberboard (MDF) surfaces via spray coating

Abstract

We proposed a simple and useful one-step spray coating method to protect MDF panels against physical and mechanical damages commonly presented in indoor real-life conditions. Highly hydrophobic surfaces were designed by TMCS (trimethylchlorosilane)-SiO2 nanoparticles deposition on MDF panels as a function of concentration of solution (0.1 and 0.3%) and number of cycles (10, 20 and 30 times). The formation of TMCS-SiO2 coating on MDF surface was investigated by scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM/EDS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), attenuated total reflectance with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) and time-dependent apparent contact angle (WCA). Water drop impacting, dust impacting, and tape-peeling tests were conducted to simulate real-condition damages on MDF surfaces and to investigate the durability of highly hydrophobic coating. The coated MDF panels showed apparent water contact angle exceeding 140° with an interesting time-dependent stability and ability to roll-off, especially because the hydrophobicity of TMCS and hierarchical structure self-organized by spherical SiO2 nanoparticles. This rougher surface and presence of alkyl groups provide physical and mechanical durability of MDF panels even after water drop and dust impact tests, and tape-peeling up to five cycles. Therefore, this facile one-step MDF coating can be an effective, stable and mechanically durable alternative to protect MDF in undesirable real-life conditions.