The global hydrophobic coatings market is projected to reach $3.0 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 4.2%. These innovative coatings are in high demand across sectors such as automotive, marine, construction, healthcare, textile, environmental management, and further industries thanks to their properties including and not limited to water-repellency, corrosion-resistance, and self-cleaning. Challenges faced by hydrophobic nanocoatings in durability, adhesion, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability are being addressed through research on wetting control and scalability. Hydrophobic coating-as-a-service business model offers specialized services for applying hydrophobic coatings on various surfaces, with the highest efficiency. Choosing providers with advanced expertise and high-quality materials is essential for long-lasting product protection.
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Nanotechnology was introduced in the 1980s and has found wide applications in various sectors, including aerospace, biomedical, cosmetics, transportation, and building construction. The concept dates back to the fourth century with the roman nanoparticle-based Lycurgus Cup which changes color according to the location of the light source it is exposed (Bayda et al., 2019). The global hydrophobic coatings market, initially valued at $2.0 billion in 2020, is expected to experience substantial growth, reaching an estimated worth of $3.0 billion by 2030, with a projected Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 4.2% from 2021 to 2030 (Marpu, Prakhar and Eswara, 2022). This expansion underscores the increasing significance of hydrophobic coatings due to their exceptional water-repelling, corrosion-resistant and self-cleaning properties associated to it.
Hydrophobicity, or the propensity of water molecules to interact more with each other than with a given surface, can be assessed by employing drop shape analysis. In this technique, the contact angle is determined by examining the image of a sessile drop, where the point of contact between the liquid drop and the surface is observed. The contact angle (denoted as θ) characterizes the angle formed between the liquid surface and the tangent line to the outline of the contact area. A contact angle of around 90 degrees indicates that the surface is hydrophobic, while a contact angle of approximately 150 degrees signifies that the surface is superhydrophobic. Furthermore, on a superhydrophobic surface, the roll-off angle should be less than 5 degrees (Simpson et al., 2015).
Hydrophobic nanocoating, despite their promising applications, face challenges related to durability, adhesion, cost-effectiveness, and environmental sustainability. Researchers strive to address these challenges, focusing on heightened robustness, economic viability, and environmental conscientiousness. Emphasis is placed on precise manipulation of wetting characteristics and scalability in production methodologies. Hydrophobic nanocoatings show transformative potential in various industrial sectors. Additionally, the Hydrophobic Coating-as-a-Service model offers specialized coating services. These technologically advanced coatings, known for water and oil repellence, simplify maintenance and provide critical corrosion protection, significantly extending the lifespan of equipment. Specific formulations exhibit self-cleaning properties, reducing the need for recurrent maintenance. Applied in automotive, marine, construction, and industrial sectors, they act as protective shields, streamlining maintenance and ensuring the integrity of vessels and buildings. Engaging with reputable hydrophobic coating service companies is advisable for optimal solutions. The thin material films, serving as highly effective repellents, find versatility across automotive, aerospace, marine, construction, textiles, and other domains. In the automotive sector, they safeguard vehicles, contribute to improved fuel efficiency, and reduce drag. Similarly, in the aerospace sector, hydrophobic nanocoatings protect against ice and corrosion, improving fuel efficiency. These coatings also play a crucial role in safeguarding boats and buildings, enhancing energy efficiency and rendering textiles water and stain-resistant, with applications in clothing and medical devices.
The unique capabilities of hydrophobic nanocoatings offer tailored solutions, encompassing self-cleaning car surfaces, anti-icing coatings for aircraft, antifouling coatings for boats, water-resistant coatings for buildings, and stain-resistant coatings for fabrics. As a highly adaptable and promising technology, hydrophobic nanocoatings are poised to continue making substantial contributions across numerous sectors, advancing efficiency, and fortifying durability in diverse applications. Within nature, numerous surfaces, including lotus and rice leaves, butterfly wings, rose petals, gecko feet, spider silk, and fish scales, demonstrate outstanding instances of hydrophobicity or even super hydrophobicity with nonwetting behaviour in respect of water contact angle (WCA) respectively higher than 90 and 150 degrees. Hydrophobicity inspires biomimical industrial products with a large range of utilization and benefits including efficiency improvements, and providing alternative low-cost industrial solutions. The WCA is visualized in Figure 1.