Fabrication and Process Optimization of Super-wettability Metal Mesh

Abstract

Super-wettability Cu mesh(200PPI) was successfully fabricated by direct oxidation, liquid deposition and vapor deposition in order to expand its application ranges and enhance microstructure effect. The structure, morphology and wettability of Cu mesh were characterized by scanning electron microscopy(SEM), transmission electron microscopy(TEM), X-ray diffraction, contact angle instrument and high speed video, and the optimum preparation process of film layer was obtained. The copper mesh with a layer of knife-like flower film shows super-hydrophilic wettability on which the spread velocity of water is 3.5m/s; moreover, the super-hydrophilic mesh with hybrid structures can be switched into super-hydrophobic material (>150°) by liquid deposition and vapor deposition methods; the optimum fabrication conditions to achieve super-hydrophobic performance >150° are oxidation time of 15min, oxidation temperature of 96℃, liquid deposition time of 30min and the treat temperature of 180℃ for 20min. Meantime, hybrid gaps of knife-like flowers are considered as the main reason of the super-wettability of meshes.

Keywords

• metal mesh
• super-hydrophilicity
• super-hydrophobicity
• knife-like flower