Fabrication of nickel micromesh sheets and evaluation of their water-repellent and water-proof abilities

• Published in: International journal of precision engineering and manufacturing 2009-07, Vol.10 (3), p.161-166
• Main Authors: Lee, Sang Min, Oh, Dong Joon, Jung, Im Deok, Bae, Kong Myeong, Jung, Phill Gu, Chung, Kwang Hyo, Cho, Seung-Jin, Ko, Jong Soo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Engineering; Industrial and Production Engineering; Materials Science
• ISSN: 2234-7593; 2005-4602
• DOI: 10.1007/s12541-009-0062-8

Nickel micromesh sheets were designed and fabricated and their water-repellent and water-proof abilities were characterized. The network-type microstructures of the micromesh sheets functioned as micro-protrusions of lotus leaves, which allowed the sheets to superhydrophobic. The micromesh enabled the material waves, including sound and light waves, to pass through the microholes, but repelled water. Because of the effects of the micromesh and plasma polymerized fluorocarbon (PPFC) coating, the contact angle of the micromesh sheets was drastically jumped up from 63° of the non-coated nickel flat film to 140° of the PPFC-coated nickel micromesh, which modified the nickel sheet from hydrophilic to superhydrophobic. The narrower lattice width in the micromesh was more effective at enhancing the water-repellency. On the other hand, the narrow lattice width weakened the water-proof ability. Reducing the hole size and increasing the lattice width of the micromesh are necessary to improve the water-proof ability.