Facile fabrication of superhydrophobic polysiloxane/magnetite nanocomposite coatings with electromagnetic shielding property

Superhydrophobic coatings, with a water contact angle (WCA) of 158.3 degrees and a sliding angle of 4.3 degrees, were readily prepared by mixing silicone resin, aminopropyltriethoxysilane and Fe3O4 nanoparticles, and subsequently curing at an ambient temperature. The surface wettability, surface morphology and composition, and long-term durability of the coatings were investigated by WCA analysis, field emission scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and QUV accelerated weathering tests, respectively. The results show that the coatings display a pencil hardness of B, excellent weatherability, and electromagnetic shielding effectiveness beyond 60% in the frequency range of 10-3000 MHz.