Superhydrophobic soot as a mechanically robust, heat insulating and anti-corrosion protective coating for concrete surfaces

An artful strategy for protecting the concrete structures from cracking, flacking and corrosion is to make them non-wettable. Nonetheless, many hydrophobic modifiers are incompatible with the cement, hamper its hydration, possess weak alkali resistance and environmental toxicity, hence, retarding the adaptability of water-repellent chemicals in building materials. In this research, we propose a possible innovative solution to the aforementioned hurdles by drop-casting silicone-turpentine blend on pre-cured concrete and depositing rapeseed oil soot to convert the surface into superhydrophobic. The as-prepared silicone-soot composite inhibits the absorption of water and corrosive ions, thermally isolates the pristine concrete and withstands mechanical wear caused by abrasion, heavy rainfall, dynamic impact of sulfuric acid droplets and adhesion tape. Our invention is time-efficient, scalable and inexpensive, revealing opportunities for facile synthesis of durable superhydrophobic concrete on a large scale for aiding the construction of industrial facilities.