LAUSR

The present investigation deals with the development of an acrylic-based polymeric emulsion that offers multifunctional properties such as superhydrophobic, antimicrobial, anti-icing and self-cleaning. The said multifunctional waterborne emulsion was prepared via a surfactant-free reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization technique. To accomplish this, a new class of ABC type triblock copolymer (PMTAC-b-PBA-b-PIBA) based on 2-(methcryloyloxy) ethyl ammonium chloride (MTAC), n-butyl acrylate (BA) and isobornyl acrylate (IBA) was synthesized via polymerization induced self-assembly (PISA) technique in a surfactant-free miniemulsion process. The cationic polymer, PMTAC was used as a macro-RAFT agent to prepare the rest of the blocks in the presence of nanosize monodisperse colloidal silica particles leading to raspberry-like morphology via ionic interaction between anionic silica particles and the cationic block copolymer (BCP). A water contact angle (WCA) of more than 150o was achieved for the emulsion coating after the fluorosilane treatment which delineates its superhydrophobic nature. The prepared emulsion showed antimicrobial property both in Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) bacteria. The resultant BCP emulsion was coated over different substrates like glass, paper, and cotton and the coating material showed anti-icing and self-cleaning properties.