Underwater superpolymphobicity: Concept, achievement, and applications

Abstract

Abstract Polymers are the most common materials in our daily lives. Reducing the adhesion between liquid polymers (LPs) and the solid substrate has great significance in manipulating and using polymers. However, the wetting behavior of an LP on a solid surface has rarely been studied compared to the extensively studied water, oils, and bubbles. Recently, the concept of underwater superpolymphobicity that a solid surface has great repellence to LPs in water was proposed. In this review, we summarize the recent advance of underwater superpolymphobicity, mainly focusing on its concept, achievement, and potential applications. Underwater superpolymphobic microstructures can be prepared on various hydrophilic substrates by the formation of proper hierarchical microstructures. The underwater superpolymphobicity can be used to reduce the adhesion of polymers on a material surface, design the shape of polymers, and separate LPs from water. We believe that the underwater superpolymphobicity may soon be in the polymers‐related applications, for example, polymer production, packing, casting industry, polymer shaping, and 3D printing.

Keywords

• liquid polymer
• polymer adhesion
• polymer repellence
• surface microstructure
• underwater superpolymphobicity