Structure and properties of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/Al2O3 antifogging coating with self-healing performance

Abstract

Condensation of fog droplets on polyethylene (PE) films significantly impairs light transmission of the film. This study introduces a PVA/Al₂O₃ antifogging coating, applied to PE films using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and nanoaluminum sol. The resultant coatings exhibit superior wettability and an extended antifogging lifespan. Specifically, the coating maintains a low contact angle of 21.1° and demonstrates an antifogging duration of up to 60 days in a 60°C hot fog environment. Notably, light transmission at 500 nm wavelength is enhanced by 3.5% with the PVA/Al₂O₃ coating compared to the uncoated PE film, thereby facilitating plant photosynthesis. Moreover, the coating displays a remarkable self-healing capacity upon external damage, significantly prolonging the antifogging film’s durability.