Multi-scenario durable hydrophilic/hydrophobic poly (HEAA-co-BA-co-BPA) anti-fogging coating

Anti-fog glass can solve the safety problems caused by glass fogging in a wide range of applications. However, its durability is still insufficient under actual application conditions such as high humidity, friction and scratches, et al. Therefore, this work copolymerised hydrophilic chain segments N-hydroxyethyl acrylamide (HEAA) containing -OH and water-resistant -NH-CO-, hydrophobic chain segments butyl acrylate (BA) and a “bridging agent” 4-benzoylphenyl acrylate (BPA) into a trimeric anti-fog coating. And, -OH was introduced to the glass surface by a simple plasma treatment. The BPA was covalently linked with hydrophilic and hydrophobic polymers HEAA/BA through a free-radical polymerisation reaction of double-bonded to form a covalent carbon chain. Meanwhile, it covalently combined with the -OH on the glass surface. BPA formed a stable link between the anti-fog coating and the glass substrate. Thus, the coating was resistant to 400 cycles of sand abrasions and can lift up to 1500   g. The -NH-CO- in HEAA and BA significantly increased the water resistance of the coating which can be immersed in water for 120   h. The -OH in HEAA not only given the coating excellent anti-fogging properties, but also enabled it to self-heal quickly within 10   s. The durable anti-fog coatings prepared in this work have great potential for practical applications.