Biomimetic superhydrophobic polyolefin surfaces fabricated with a facile scraping, bonding and peeling method

Abstract

Inspired by the superhydrophobicity of juicy peach surface, on which microscale hairs are standing vertically to the surface plane, an extremely simple, inexpensive physical method is developed for fabrication of superhydrophobic polyolefin surfaces over large areas. This method includes three steps: abrasive paper scraping, adhesive tape bonding and 90° peeling. Scraping increases the roughness and enhence water contact angles (CAs) on polyolefin surfaces. It increases more when the scraped surface are bonded with adhesive types and then then 90° peeled. The CA variation depends on the types of polyolefin and abrasive paper. Superhydrophobic lowdensity polyethylene (LDPE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and polypropylene (PP) surfaces (CA>150°) are obtained and they all exhibit very low adhesive force and high resistance to strong acids and bases.

Keywords

• superhydrophobic
• contact angle
• water repellent