Nanoconjugates of methacrylic polymers: Synthesis, characterization, and immobilization to leather

ABSTRACT Imparting superhydrophobicity to surfaces has direct implications for developing water‐repellent materials. Most hydrophobic materials cannot be applied directly to specific surfaces like leather because of noncompatibility. Although methacrylic polymers are compatible to leather, their inherent hydrophilic characteristics make it challenging to use for introducing hydrophobicity or superhydrophobicity. In this article, we present a strategy of introducing hydrophobicity in various degrees as well as superhydrophobicity to different surfaces, particularly leather and glass surfaces by using conjugates of methacrylic polymers and various carbon nanomaterials. The covalent functionalization of methacrylate polymers with carbon nanotubes and fullerenes was performed by radical polymerization in the presence or absence of chain transfer agents (CTAs). CTA was used during polymerization to introduce carboxylic acid group, necessary for chromium‐assisted binding to leather to avoid leaching. A balance between the compatibility of the polymer nanoconjugates with the leather and the amount necessary for coating stabilization was studied by a rheometer. While water contact angle measurement indicated the mild hydrophobicity in most cases, we were delighted to observe superhydrophobicity in one case presumably due to increased roughness because of the presence of specific nanomaterial to overcome inherent hydrophilicity of methacrylic polymers. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020, 137, 48627.