Nanomodification of water-based styrene–acrylic paint and coating compositions with organosilicon additives

Introduction. Modern trends in the construction and paint industries are aimed at creating environmentally friendly materials with improved protective and decorative properties. Water-based styrene-acrylic dispersions are widely used for painting facades and wooden structures, but their performance characteristics, particularly hydrophobicity, moisture resistance, and adhesion strength, are often subject to increased requirements. A promising method of nanomodification is the introduction of organosilicon compounds for targeted modification of surface properties and interfacial interactions in the polymer matrix. Materials and мethods. The study was conducted on a styrene-acrylic dispersion using three types of additives: a wetting agent based on polyether-modified polysiloxane, a water-repellent agent in the form of a polysiloxane emulsion, and a wax silicone emulsion. The coating properties were tested using standard methods. Results and discussion. It was found that the introduction of a water-repellent ensures a reduction in the surface energy of the coating from 45.9 to 9.6 mN/m. The surface transitions from a hydrophilic state with a contact angle of 54° to a hydrophobic state with an angle of up to 106°. A wax emulsion also enhances hydrophobicity, increasing the contact angle to 92°. Nanomodified styrene-acrylic dispersions exhibit a significant increase in gloss (up to 56 GU) and enhanced resistance to aqueous media while maintaining high adhesion. A plasticizing effect of the additives, leading to a decrease in coating hardness, was revealed. Conclusion. The developed formulations, based on aqueous styrene-acrylic dispersions and organosilicon additives, improve their processing properties. They can be used to produce coatings with increased hydrophobicity, water resistance, and improved decorative properties. The ability to specifically control the hydrophobicity-mechanical strength ratio has been demonstrated. This opens up prospects for the use of these compounds in conditions of high humidity and other atmospheric influences.