Alkyl Ketene Dimer/Polydimethylsiloxane Modified Starch‐Based Materials With Superhydrophobicity and Wear Resistance

ABSTRACT Starch‐based materials have been widely used in packaging materials, but their intrinsic hydrophilicity limits their practical applications. Therefore, establishing a superhydrophobic coating on the surface of the substrate is an effective way to block water vapor from entering the interior. However, superhydrophobic coatings are susceptible to abrasion, leading to low durability to maintain a prolonged hydrophobic effect. In this study, a wear‐resistant superhydrophobic coating based on alkyl ketone dimer (AKD) was prepared on the surface of a starch‐based material by a simple one‐step spraying method, in which polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) was used as a binder to firmly affix the AKD hydrophobic coating onto the substrate's surface. The superhydrophobic starch‐based material exhibited a static contact angle of 151° and a sliding contact angle of 3°. Moreover, the contact angle remained above 145° even after 200 s of water impact, providing excellent hydrophobicity and mechanical durability.