Facile preparation of robust and superhydrophobic materials for self-cleaning and oil/water separation

Superhydrophobic coatings have broad applications owing to their excellent water-resisting and self-cleaning properties. In this study, we have successfully fabricated coated meshes with robust and superhydrophobic surface (i.e., water-repellent magnesium stearate powders on substrates made of phenol-formaldehyde resin). These coated meshes showed superhydrophobicity with water contact angles exceeding 150 degrees and excellent self-cleaning property both in air and oil circumstances. Additionally, the superhydrophobic surfaces also exhibited prominent mechanical stability, thermal stability, corrosion resistance, and oil/water separation properties (> 92%). Therefore, it is believed that the facile fabrication presented in this study may provide a novel methodology and these robust and superhydrophobic coated meshes have potential applications in oil/water separation.