UV-cured organic-inorganic hybrid networks for durable antifogging coating

Abstract

Preventing surface fogging is critical for maintaining transparency in various transparent applications such as windows, mirrors and goggles. However, the fabrication of durable antifogging surfaces has been significantly challenging. The challenges include the lack of a simple preparation method, low coating hardness, poor water resistance and inability to self-healing. In this work, we developed an organic-inorganic interpenetrating hydrophilic antifogging coating using vinyl hybridized silica nanoparticles (VSNPs), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and methacrylic acid (MAA). A durable antifogging coating with self-healing capabilities has been prepared using a facile UV curing process. Such a hybrid coating can maintain its outstanding antifogging performance even after 4000 cycles of sand abrasion and 36 h of water immersion. Due to these outstanding properties and facile preparation, VSNPs-PVA/PMAA coating shows great potential in practical applications.