Mechanically Durable Flame-Retardant Superhydrophobic Coating with Self-cleaning and Anti-fouling Performance

Abstract

Most traditional fabrics, such as textiles and sponges, are highly flammable and susceptible to oil contamination. In this study, based on an ammonium polyphosphate/pentaerythritol flame-retardant system, hydrophobic silica nanoparticles (SiO₂) and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) are introduced to successfully construct a composite coating that integrates both flame-retardant and superhydrophobic properties. The coated fabric materials exhibit excellent anti-fouling resistance to daily liquids such as cola and orange juice, alongside outstanding flame retardancy. The static water contact angle (WCA) of the hydrophobic flame-retardant coating (HFRC) is greater than 150°, and it retains excellent water repellency and self-cleaning performance even after 150 abrasion cycles or 100 kneading cycles. Furthermore, the limiting oxygen index (LOI) of the HFRC-treated material reaches 39%. The HFRC demonstrates remarkable superhydrophobicity, mechanical durability, and flame retardancy, providing a novel and facile approach for the low-cost fabrication of flame-retardant superhydrophobic coatings.