Towards the fabrication of a mussel-inspired transparent anti-wetting coating for the protection of cultural artefacts

Cultural artefacts are the essential threads that connect us to our historical heritage and cultural diversity. The conservation of these artefacts is crucial for maintaining our legacy and history. The present study aims to preserve copper-based cultural artefacts through an efficient one-step spray technique. The spray solution develops a superhydrophobic coating on the copper substrate, yielding a water contact angle of 158 ± 2° In addition to water repellency, the coating also maintains the artefact's aesthetic appearance by maintaining transparency above 90 % and exhibiting no visible color change. With mechanical sturdiness against water jet impact (up to 3 ms^-1), wear resistance (25 cycles of sandpaper abrasion, 8 cycles of falling sand abrasion) and adherence (15 cycles of tape peeling), the coating serves as an adaptable option for practical applications. The chemical resilience in both acidic and neutral media and thermal stability up to 240 °C further diversify its applicability in extreme conditions. Moreover, it also acts as a barrier to various environmental elements, including dust, sand, moisture, and UV radiation. The attributes such as corrosion inhibition and self-cleaning further boost the real-world usage of the coating. Thus, the entire study paves the way for the creation of a facile, reliable and sustainable solution for cultural heritage protection.