A metal sputtered waterproof coating that enhances hot water stability

We report on the preparation and characterization of a physical vapor deposited gold coating that is waterproof and provides enhanced stability. Gold, a well-known non-reactive material, is unaffected by air and by most reagents; it was used to increase the stability of our coating on paper. SEM was used to investigate the surface morphology and the stability of the coatings after exposure to hot water. In addition, contact angle experiments with water were performed to measure the hydrophobicity. We anticipate that this work will offer a new functional coating for products that will prevent the detrimental health problems associated with plastic-based coatings.