Superhydrophobic surfaces with excellent mechanical durability and easy repairability

Superhydrophobic surfaces with both excellent mechanical durability and easy repairability based on polytetrafluoroethylene/polyvinylidene fluoride (PTFE/PVDF) composites were prepared by a facile method. The surface energy of PVDF matrix was lowered by the incorporation of PTFE particles, and the rough micro textures on the surfaces of the composites were created by abrading. A water droplet on the surface exhibited a contact angle of about 163.5 degrees, and a sliding angle lower than 5 degrees. Such superhydrophobic surfaces showed strong mechanical durability because the surfaces were prepared in the way of mechanical abrasion. The scratch tests indicated that the surface micro textures were retained after the abrasion cycles, and the fresh exposed surfaces were still superhydrophobic. More importantly, such superhydrophobicity can be repaired by a simple abrading regeneration process within a few minutes when the surface is polluted by dust or organic contaminant. (c) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.