An Efficient Sol-Gel Strategy to Fabricate Superhydrophobic and Oleophobic Polyester Fabrics With Enhanced Mechanical Stability and Chemical Durability Using Perfluorodecyltrimethoxysilane (PFDMS)

The development of functionalized amphiphobic coatings on polyester (PET) fabrics has always been a research hotspot. However, maintaining the physical and chemical stability of the coating poses challenges. A high-efficiency, convenient, one-step sol-gel approach to fabricate PET fabrics coated with perfluorodecyltrimethoxysilane (PFDMS) was introduced, imparting fabrics both superhydrophobic and oleophobic properties. The PFDMS coating significantly enhanced the fabric's resistance to wear, UV light, and chemical erosion. The wettability, morphology, and chemical composition of the PET fabric were characterized by contact angle measurement, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The effects of PFDMS concentration and hydrolysis time on the fabric's wettability were investigated. When PFDMS:NH4OH:EtOH = 3:50:50, and the hydrolysis time was 10 min, the modified PET fabric exhibited a water contact angle (WCA) of 152.2 degrees and an oil contact angle (OCA) of 130.5 degrees. Further tests demonstrated that PFDMS-modified PET fabrics possessed excellent mechanical stability, chemical durability, and environmental stability. Additionally, these fabrics showed remarkable antipollution and self-cleaning properties. Thus, a new method for creating robust, long-lasting, and stable amphiphobic coatings was proposed, aiming to streamline production, enhance scalability, and broaden product applications.