Carbon nanotubes-based nonfluorinated superwetting paint for the construction of functional cellulose materials coatings with hot-water-repellency and oil-hot water separation

Carbon nanotubes, carbon nanospheres, long-chain alkyl amine, pentaerythritol-containing compound and branched amino polymer were mixed in ethanol medium without heat; by utilizing the in-situ growth of nanoscale low surface energy granules onto carbon matrix surface via the room-temperature reaction between acrylate-comprising reactant and amino substance, whereafter the hierarchical structural assembly was formed, the carbon nanotubes-based nonfluorinated superlyophobic paint was constructed in the one-pot spontaneous condition. Well-suited spraying technology was used for fixation of as-prepared superwetting paint on cotton textile to create fluoride-free hot-water-repellent cotton fabric coating, its contact angle and sliding angle were 155.0° and 2° tested by 95°C of water. Furthermore, the anti-fouling effect of such coated fabric to 95°C sewage and self-cleaning behavior, by dripping 95°C water onto coating product, were adequately established. Notably, universally applicable fabrication and large-scale formation of the hot-water-repellent coating were also realized, thereinto these coating surfaces of apocynum fabric, glass sheet, cardboard, plastic sheet, cork board and sponge, sprayed by the carbon nanotubes-based superwetting paint, had contact angles over 158° as well as 1° of sliding angles (tested water temperature, 95°C). Beyond that, the cellulose sheet coating, obtained using same strategy as mentioned above, could separate mixture of oil and hot water (55°C), meanwhile its oil-hot water separation flux and efficiency were 9370 L·m −2 ·h −1 and 99.7 %. It is believed that the self-developed carbon nanotubes-based nonfluorinated superwetting special paint product provides robust hot-water-repellent coating that is beneficial to the low-carbon development of hot liquid resistant surfaces with easy operability, environmental sustainability, and durable application.