Hydrophobic Materials Made By Vapor Deposition Coating and Applications Thereof

Abstract

Methods are provided for vapor deposition coating of hydrophobic materials and applications thereof. The method for making a hydrophobic material includes providing a natural mineral, providing a silicone-based material, heating the silicone-based material to release vaporous molecules of the silicone-based material, and depositing the vaporous molecules of the silicone-based material to form a layer of the silicone-based material on surfaces of the natural mineral.

1 - 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . A material having a hydrophobic surface, comprising:
 a natural mineral comprising perlite or vermiculite; and   a silicone-based material comprising vulcanized network of polymerized siloxane, wherein the silicone-based material is coated on the natural mineral through a process of vapor deposition forming a hydrophobic layer.   
     
     
         31 . The material of  claim 30 , wherein the natural mineral exhibits internal and external surfaces coated with the hydrophobic layer. 
     
     
         32 . The material of  claim 30 , wherein the hydrophobic layer is less than about 20 nanometers in thickness. 
     
     
         33 . The material of  claim 30 , wherein the perlite or vermiculite is heated to an expanded form. 
     
     
         34 . The material of  claim 30 , wherein the natural mineral further comprises pumice. 
     
     
         35 . The material of  claim 30 , wherein the natural mineral further comprises one or more of diatomite, bentonite and zeolite. 
     
     
         36 . The material of  claim 30 , wherein the natural mineral comprises one or more of silicon dioxide, aluminum oxide, silicate, aluminate and carbonate. 
     
     
         37 . The material of  claim 30 , wherein the silicone-based material comprises a vulcanized network of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). 
     
     
         38 . The material of  claim 30 , wherein the natural mineral has:
 a grain size from about 0.01 mm to about 10 cm;   a pore size in the grain of the natural mineral from about 1 nm to about 1 cm;   a surface area from about from about 0.1 m 2 /g to about 100 m 2 /g; and   a bulk density from about 0.02 g/cm 3  to about 2 g/cm 3 .