Hydrophobic Materials

Gelest offers a wide range silanes and silicones for use as surface modifiers. One of the most desired after properties is hydrophobicity. This property can be used for such things as rendering glassware water repellent or affecting the wetting of water on a substrate causing it to bead up and roll off the surface. Alkylsilanes can be reacted onto surfaces using a 5-10% solution in alcohol and curing at 100 °C. Silicones can be applied to the surface in solution or neat to yield a hydrophobic surface as well. Fluoroalkylsilanes offer hydrophobicity as well as oleophobicity.