Transparent Peelable Films with Ultrawear Resistant and Anti-Ice Functionalities Fabricated via Magnetron Sputtering and Vacuum Plasma Processes

Transparent peelable protective films demand high transparency and high wear resistance. In cold regions, protective films on monitoring devices even demand anti-icing properties to ensure clear vision not blocked by ice. However, inadequate wear resistance resulting from low hardness and ice accumulation on the surface has continued to limit the durability of the films. Therefore, the fabrication of a transparent peelable film with excellent wear resistance and longer icing delay time (IDT) is reported. The film is formed by dual-step polyurethane and acrylic resins spraying on a glass substrate, hard coating deposition, and hydrophobic plasma treatment. The resultant properties that are the combination of higher transmittance (94%), a very low coefficient of friction (0.087), and a longer IDT (≈40 min) for a thin peelable film are rarely reported. These exciting properties are attributed to the strengthening effect of the SiN_x/BN nanolayer and the attachment of the hydrophobic fluorocarbon radicals. This film can serve as a protective shield for transparent screens and other delicate devices especially where rough handling is inevitable, an alternative to inorganic fillers in polymer composites for improved hardness, and a choice material for protection against ice accumulation.