Although there are many viable approaches to induce hydrophobicity, a superhydrophobic surface could only be fabricated by combination of surface chemistry modification and roughness enhancement. In this study, surface roughness was obtained by 12 nm SiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) which were chemically modified using a self-assembled monolayer of perfluorodecyltrichlorosilane. The SiO2 NPs which were rendered hydrophobic, then successfully dispersed into a poly silicon (silsesquioxane) matrix at varying concentrations from 0.5 to 4%. The NPs dispersed polymer suspension was then spray coated on to glass and aluminum coupons in order to achieve polymer thin film nanocomposites. The results were revealed a superhydrophobic surface with a water contact angle exceeding 178 with low hysteresis and bouncing water droplet behavior. Furthermore the composite film reliability (hot-humid and ice build-up) was tested in an environmental control chamber by precisely adjusting both temperature (85 degrees C) and relative humidity (85 RH). Taber abrasion testing was applied in order to gain insights into the abrasion resistance of nanocomposite film. Finally, ice formation was simulated at 20 degrees C on the superhydrophobic nanocomposite film coated substrates. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.