**3.6 Applications of superhydrophobic coatings towards self-cleaning urinary coatings**

The superhydrophobic coatings' self-cleaning properties can be used for developing water-free urinaries, which doesn't require any systematic cleaning process to mollify unpleasant odor [49, 50]. Since the surface tension of water (71.2 mN/m) and urine (70 mN/m) are of similar values, it is expected that a water-repellent surface possesses a tendency to repel urine as well [51, 52]. The ZnO/magnesium stearate coatings showed excellent dye and urine-repellant properties, as shown in **Figure 5(a, b)**. It is observed that the droplets of urine samples roll off over the surface of ZnO/magnesium stearate coatings due to their extreme repellent

#### **Figure 5.**

*Superhydrophobic applications of ZnO/magnesium stearate (a) dye repellency, (b) urine repellency, (c) spreading of graphene oxide (GO) dust on coatings, the (d) self-cleaning ability of ZnO/magnesium stearate to remove the GO dust.*

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*Nanostructured Materials for the Development of Superhydrophobic Coatings*

as shown in **Figure 5(c, d)**, and ensures their self-cleaning properties.

self-cleaning urinary coatings are illustrated in this chapter.

"The authors declare no conflict of interest."

properties [33]. The FT-IR spectrum measured after urine droplet tests on the ZnO/magnesium stearate showed the absence of vibration bands due to urine, which showed their excellent superhydrophobic effects [33]. Additionally, these superhydrophobic films' self-cleaning properties are also examined using graphene oxide as a dust spread on their surfaces. After adding few water droplets on their surface, the water droplets cleaned all the dust (graphene oxide) on their surfaces,

In conclusion, the significant role of porous nanostructures for developing superhydrophobic coatings is demonstrated in this chapter. A cost-effective sonochemical approach combined with a spray coating process for the fabrication of superhydrophobic coatings is presented. The impact of nanostructures on the coatings' porosity is explained with the experimental findings like AFM micrograph and water contact angle measurements. The exciting applications of superhydrophobic coatings like water-floating properties, load-bearing applications, dust removal,

The authors thank the Management and the Principal, Mepco Schlenk Engineering College, Sivakasi, for the constant encouragement and support.

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.96320*

**4. Conclusions**

**Acknowledgements**

**Conflict of interest**

*Nanostructured Materials for the Development of Superhydrophobic Coatings DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.96320*

properties [33]. The FT-IR spectrum measured after urine droplet tests on the ZnO/magnesium stearate showed the absence of vibration bands due to urine, which showed their excellent superhydrophobic effects [33]. Additionally, these superhydrophobic films' self-cleaning properties are also examined using graphene oxide as a dust spread on their surfaces. After adding few water droplets on their surface, the water droplets cleaned all the dust (graphene oxide) on their surfaces, as shown in **Figure 5(c, d)**, and ensures their self-cleaning properties.
