Abstract: A method for preparing a hydrophobic coating by preparing a precursor sol comprising a metal alkoxide, a solvent, a basic catalyst, a fluoroalkyl compound and water, depositing the precursor sol as a film onto a surface, such as a substrate or a pipe, heating, the film and exposing the film to a hydrophobic silane compound to form a hydrophobic coating with a contact angle greater than approximately 150°. The contact angle of the film can be controlled by exposure to ultraviolet radiation to reduce the contact angle and subsequent exposure to a hydrophobic silane compound to increase the contact angle.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments provide compositions and devices for hydrophobic coatings, and methods for making them. The hydrophobic coating can be formed from a coating solution including, for example, organically modified silicates (ormosils) mixed with coupling agents. Specifically, a sol-gel solution can be formed (e.g., at room temperature) including a plurality of alkoxy silane precursors that contains at least one glycidoxy alkoxy silane precursor. In an exemplary embodiment, the sol-gel solution can be a mixed sol-gel solution formed including a first solution mixed with a second solution. The first solution can include one or more alkoxy silane precursors, and the second solution can include at least one glycidoxy alkoxy silane precursor. A coupling agent can then be added and reacted (e.g., cross-linked) with the (mixed) sol-gel solution forming the coating solution, which can be applied onto a substrate that needs to be protected from corrosion or from chemical and/or biological agents.