Highly Hydrophobic Organic Coatings Based on Organopolysilazanes and Silica Nanoparticles: Evaluation of Environmental Degradation

Hydrophobic coatings have potential applications in various fields, including for corrosion and weathering protection. In this study, we investigated the use of organopolysilazanes (OPSZs) combined with hydrophobic nanoparticles (NPs) on steel as a substrate to obtain hydrophobic coatings. The coatings were characterized using various techniques, and their hydrophobic properties and corrosion and weathering resistance were evaluated under near-shore marine conditions with high salinity, humidity and UV radiation. Our results show that the coatings exhibited excellent hydrophobic properties and significantly improved corrosion and weathering resistance compared to an uncoated steel and a pristine polymer. These findings suggest that the developed coatings have the potential to provide protection against corrosion for atmospheric and splash exposures in marine environments.