Med-Tech Innovation Surface Treatment
The Crucial Divide between HYDROPHOBIC and HYDROPHILIC COATINGS
Knowing the advantages, characteristics and functions of a coating allows design engineers to make the right choice for their applications. Dr Josh Simon of Biocoat explains the important differences between hydrophobic and hydrophilic coatings.
t is easy to get the words “hydrophobic” and “hydrophilic” confused with one another because the two words are so similar. When distinguishing between hydrophobic and hydrophilic coatings for medical devices, the differences and similarities are especially important to remember. How can a person remember the main differentiating factors? For those inclined towards word origins, “phobic” invokes the Greek word for fear, so a hydrophobic coating “fears” water, and thus does not interact with it well. It may even repel the water. “Philic” invokes the Greek word for love, and by inference a hydrophilic coating is “water-loving.” It readily interacts with water.
I 16 ¦ April 2011
With these definitions, it now becomes easier to point out the similarities and differences. There are three major areas to think about: functions, applications and business models involved with the coatings. This article gives an overview of each area.
Functional differences When it comes to function, there are similarities and differences between hydrophobic and hydrophilic coatings. Comparing functionality involves looking at physical properties such as contact angle, coefficient of friction, degree of cross-linking and durability. The chief parameter for distinguishing between
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