Sol-gel synthesis and study of the hydrophobicity of coatings prepared using modified aerosils

Sols based on methyltriethoxysilane have been synthesized. These sols were further used to obtain film-forming composites through mixing with aerosil powders of various degrees of hydrophobicity. The effect of ripening of sol-gel systems and the peculiarities of the surface properties of aerosils on the hydrophobicity of coatings produced based on them have been investigated. It has been revealed that a significant effect on hydrophobic and superhydrophobic properties is provided by the degree of hydrophobization of the aerosil surface. For composites with fluorine-containing aerosils, the duration of sol-gel systems aging within 40 days does not significantly affect the properties of the coatings, and the observed deviations are within the measurement errors.