Self-Cleaning of Fluorescent Polyester: Construction of Superhydrophobic Coatings by Surface Microsolubility Particle Semi Embedding Technology

Abstract

Fluorescent materials are extensively utilized in anti-counterfeiting and security applications, and surface cleanliness is crucial for preserving their functionality. This study presents a novel hydrophobic fluorescent coating characterized by a morphology in which particles are semi-embedded and evenly dispersed within the primer. The coating was developed using an innovative method that involves spraying hydrophobic silica onto a microscopically dissolved fluorescent polyethylene terephthalate (PET) primer. The coating demonstrates superior hydrophobicity, with a water contact angle (WCA) of 165.0° ± 5.0° and a sliding angle of 3.0°, as well as an outstanding luminous intensity 541.4 mcd/m². Due to strong primer and semi-embedded particle binding, the coating shows good durability. After 80 wear treatment, the hydrophobic properties of the fluorescent coating were largely maintained. After 32 days of exposure to 0.68 W/m² ultraviolet light, the contact angle decreased from 160.0° to 154.7° (with a sliding angle of 8.0°). In addition, the firmness, transparency, and self-cleaning function of the coating can be effectively maintained. The coating in this work has solved the inherent problems of functionality, hydrophobicity, and durability in the coating field, and has a wide range of applications including flexible fabrics, road safety field, and building exterior materials.