Soft blasting of fluorinated polymers: The easy way to superhydrophobicity. (5th May 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Menga, Nicola; Di Mundo, Rosa; Carbone, Giuseppe
• Is Part Of: Materials & design. Volume 121(2017)
• Page Start: 414
• Page End: 420
• Publication Date: 2017-05-05
• Subjects: Soft blasting -- Superhydrophobicity -- Teflon -- Multi-scale roughness -- Sliding angle -- Sodium Bicarbonate (NaHCO3); Materials -- Periodicals; Engineering design -- Periodicals; Matériaux -- Périodiques; Conception technique -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1016/j.matdes.2017.02.074
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0264-1275

Abstract

Abstract: In this paper, we propose a new method for fabricating superhydrophobic surfaces. We use polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) as representative fluorinated polymer, and show that a few seconds blasting treatment of this material, with sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3 ) grit, can lead to superhydrophobicity with optimum sliding performances. Such a wetting behavior is correlated to the multi-scale random roughness of the surface, generated by abrasion and tearing of polymer fibers during the blasting process. This method, compared to other techniques generating superhydrophobic surfaces, turns out simpler, much more cost-effective, and directly suitable for large-scale applications. Graphical abstract: Highlights: Soft blasting of polytetrafluoroethylene leads to slippery superhydrophobic surfaces. A micro-scale random texture is generated through polymer fibers tearing. The method is portable, cost-effective, and requires a process time as low as five seconds.