An industrial waterproof reagent [(potassium methyl siliconate) (PMS)] was used for fabricating a superhydrophobicsurface on a cellulose-based material (cotton fabric or paper) through a solution-immersion method. This methodinvolves a hydrogen bond assembly and a polycondensation process. The silanol, which was formed by a reaction
of PMS aqueous solution with CO2, was assembled on the cellulose molecule surface via hydrogen bond interactions.The polymethylsilsesquioxane coatings were prepared by a polycondensation reaction of the hydroxyl between celluloseand silanol. The superhydrophobic cellulose materials were characterized by FTIR spectroscopy, thermogravimetry,and surface analysis (XPS, FESEM, AFM, and contact angle measurements). Analytical characterization revealed thatnanoscale roughness protuberances uniformly covered the surface, thus transforming the cellulose from superhydrophilicto superhydrophobic with a water contact angle of 157°. The superhydrophobic coatings were satisfactory with regardto both chemical and mechanical durability, and because of the transparency of the coatings the native cotton fabric
displayed no changes with regard to either morphology or color. The easy availability of the materials and simplicityof this method render it convenient for mass production.
