Polysilsesquioxane precursors stabilizing chlorotrifluoroethylene copolymerization for waterborne hybrid fluorocarbon coatings with excellent synergistic performances

[Display omitted] •Polysilsesquioxane precursors are used as the only stabilizer of emulsion system.•The main challenge that organic–inorganic hybrid coatings are facing is solved.•Excellent synergistic performances of hybrid fluorocarbon latex coatings.•An environmentally friendly, low-cost and simple method to prepare hybrid coatings. An environmentally friendly, low-cost and simple method to prepare poly(tert-butyl acrylate)/poly(chlorotrifluoroethylene-co-isobutyl vinyl ether)/polysilsesquioxane (PtBA/P(CTFE-co-IBVE)/PSQ) organic–inorganic hybrid waterborne fluorocarbon coatings is reported in this article. It is worth mentioning that the PSQ precursors are used as the only stabilizer of emulsion system owing to their amphiphilicity presented after hydrolysis. The composition and morphology of composite particles, microscopic phase separation and comprehensive properties of the latex coatings are further investigated. The results show that PSQ precursor not only plays the role of emulsion stabilizer, but also improves the thermal stability and hydrophobicity of the coatings. Furthermore, the influences of MPS addition amount and flexible chain segments content on organic–inorganic phase separation and coating transparency are systematically studied to address the main challenge that organic–inorganic hybrid coatings are facing, namely, how to ensure the addition of PSQ and CTFE can endow the coating with both inherent advantages without compromising other properties such as transparency, adhesion, etc. Finally, the prepared waterborne coatings exhibit strong adhesion, excellent UV resistance and outstanding organic solvents resistance under the synergistic effect between the coating components. The understanding of PtBA/P(CTFE-co-IBVE)/PSQ composite system will be of great help to design & fabricate better hybrid waterborne fluorocarbon coatings in the future.