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Silicon dioxide is a natural mineral abundant in the Earth’s crust. It is commonly referred to as silica, and is used in various ways because of its special properties. Another cool characteristic of silicon dioxide is that it is water-hating (sort of), or in other words, it's hydrophobic. That makes it good for building coatings and for products that must remain dry.
To create silicon dioxide coatings, the surface of silicon dioxide particles is treated with chemicals designed to cause them to repel water. This alters the surface of the particles so they no longer attract water molecules. That’s why silicon dioxide–coated materials are waterproof and can be used in situations where water might be an issue.
Such hydrophobic Silicon-dioxides are important in material sciences. It’s commonly found in building materials coatings, such as those for concrete and bricks, to protect them from getting damaged by water. It’s used in clothing to create water-resistant fabrics, in electronics so that critical parts remain safe from moisture, and in cosmetics to produce amazing waterproof, long-lasting properties. Due to its greate flexibility as hydrophobic silicon dioxide, it is one of the most commonly used materials.
Silicon dioxide can not wet the water not only because of its water surface nature butd is special structure. Silicon dioxide particles have a lot of surface energy, so they draw molecules in. However, the energy drops so that, upon modification of the surface of these particles with hydrophobic chemicals, the particles become hydrophobie, that is, resistant to water to a greater extent. When water comes into contact with a surface covered in hydrophobic silicon dioxide it forms droplets that simply roll away instead of being absorbed. “That’s why the hydrophobic SiO2 materials can efficiently repel the water.
A recent concept in hydrophobic technology is nanoparticles of silicon dioxide. These particles are extremely small, ranging from 1-100 nm. They can penetrate the surface of materials to a greater degree because they’re so small, which can create a layer that repels water better. Silicon dioxide nanoparticles are found in a wide range of products, including clothing, shoes, car coatings and electronics. As researchers continue to investigate these nanoparticles, we may be able to look forward to even more advanced hydrophobic technologies.
