Facile fabrication of superhydrophobic polysiloxane/magnetite nanocomposite coatings with electromagnetic shielding property

Superhydrophobic coatings, with a water contact angle (WCA) of 158.3° and a sliding angle of 4.3°, were readily prepared by mixing silicone resin, aminopropyltriethoxysilane and Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles, and subsequently curing at an ambient temperature. The surface wettability, surface morphology and composition, and long-term durability of the coatings were investigated by WCA analysis, field emission scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and QUV accelerated weathering tests, respectively. The results show that the coatings display a pencil hardness of B, excellent weatherability, and electromagnetic shielding effectiveness beyond 60% in the frequency range of 10–3000 MHz.