Super-Hydrophobic Polyurethane/Activated Biochar Composites with Polydimethylsiloxane Coating for High-Efficiency Organic Liquid Uptake.

ABSTRACT: The aim of this work is to develop structurally enhanced and highly hydrophobic polyurethane (PU) foams for the efficient remediation of liquid organic pollutants. For this purpose, PU foams were modified with renewable activated biochar derived from marine algae (AC) and a hydrophobic polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) coating, producing four systems: pristine PU, PU-AC, PU/PDMS, and the hybrid PU-AC/PDMS composite. The study evaluates how AC incorporation and PDMS surface functionalization influence the microstructure, chemical composition, wettability, thermal stability, and sorption behavior of the foams. SEM images revealed progressive reductions in pore size from 420 ± 80 μm (PU) to 360 ± 85 μm (PU-AC/PDMS), with AC introducing heterogeneity while PDMS preserved open-cell morphology. FTIR c

SUBMITTER: Dra RE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12843218 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature