Development of hydrophilic Si02/Ti02 double layers coating for automotive glass application by low-cost dip coating method / Muhammad Zahiruddin Ramli, Nur Fadzeelah Abu Kassim and Nurulhuda Amri.

Photocatalytic mirror has many unique yet extremely practical features in automotive application by being the hydrophilic nature of the mirror. Hydrophilic equals to no water beading like in conventional mirror which also translates into absolutes clear vision during rain. This hydrophilic ability is achieved by coating the mirror with 2 layers, Ti02 and Si02 layers. Si02 is a true hydrophilic outer layer that prevents water from forming beads but instead a consistent film so that optically-clear vision is possible. The inner Ti02 layer absorbs solar rays and decomposes organic matter through the photocatalytic process resulting in continuous self-cleaning action. Thus, combination of this two layers work seamlessly to provide the best possible vision all year around under any weather conditions. Sol-gel method is used in coating formulation due to its reliability while dip coating method is employed during a coating stage due to its simplicity and cost effective. The expectations from the morphology studies such as Scanning Electron Micrograph (SEM) and Transmission Electron Mictrograph (TEM) are to reveal visually the surface structure of the prepared coating particularly in terms of its crystal pattern, crystal distribution within the structure and the tickness profile of the coating. X-ray Diffraction analysis also expected to justify the type of crystal formed, either anatase or amorphous. Due the the fact that the proposed coating farmulation will eventually been applied on the outer surface of an automotive glass, the performance characteristics such as reflectance and transmittance of the coating should be extensively studied. In order to ensure the safety aspects of this coating for automotive glass application particularly the driving visibility, the percentage of reflectance to be achieved should be as lowest as possible while transmittance percentage should be as highest as possible. For further study in this research field, hydrophilicity of the double layer coating should be the primary interest to enhance the feasibility and the special feature of the coating in automotive glass application.