A facile approach towards fabrication of superhydrophobic PMMA using vinyl functionalized silica nanoparticles

The aim of this study was the synthesis of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) films with superhydrophobic characteristics through the use of modified silica particles. The strategy adopted involved the synthesis of vinyl modified silica particles with sizes ranging between 10 and 50 nm. These particles were used during the polymerization of methyl methacrylate in different ratios. The molecular weight of the PMMA increased with the amount of silica and conversion, due to the gel effect. The thermal resistance of the composites is highest for the samples containing the largest weight ratio of modified silica particles. The contact angle measurements revealed an increase with the amount of silica particles, the highest registered value being over 120 degrees.