A superhydrophobic mortar with ultra-robustness for self-cleaning, anti-icing, and anti-corrosion

Superhydrophobic cement-based materials are promising candidates to alleviate the performance deterioration of concrete constructions caused by water penetration. However, the weak mechanical performance of superhydrophobic surfaces, and severe reduction in compressive strength due to bulk modification, present significant challenges for the application of superhydrophobic cement-based materials. In this work, a superhydrophobic mortar (S-mortar) was prepared using a facile and economical method by surface micro-nano roughness construction and matrix silane modification, and nano-silica was introduced to compensate for the strength loss. The obtained S-mortar exhibits superb surface mechanical durability and chemical stability, no significant decrease in superhydrophobic property after sandpaper rubbing, knife scratches, and exposure to extreme temperatures, while even new surfaces exposed by cutting and powders obtained by grinding possess excellent water repellency. Furthermore, the superhydrophobicity endows the S-mortar with self-cleaning, anti-fouling, anti-icing, anti-freezing, and anti-corrosion properties. This approach creates a balance between superhydrophobic property and mechanical performance, broadening application prospects of superhydrophobic cement-based materials.