Facile strategy toward developing a scalable, environmental friendly and self-cleaning superhydrophobic surface

• Published in: Colloids and surfaces. A, Physicochemical and engineering aspects Physicochemical and engineering aspects, 2018-03, Vol.541, p.108-116
• Main Authors: Razavi, Seyed Mohammad Reza, Masoomi, Mahmood, Bagheri, Rouhollah
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aluminum (Al) alloys; Environmental friendly coating; Scalable; Self-cleaning; Superhydrophobic
• ISSN: 0927-7757; 1873-4359
• DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2018.01.038

[Display omitted] Aluminum (Al) alloys have been fast gained popularity and acceptance in many applications due to their superior properties. However, their corrosion and contamination have been severe problems to their applications as well as aesthetic appearance. Self-cleaning superhydrophobic surfaces have been proposed as a practical solution to the problems. In the present research, self-cleaning superhydrophobic surface was prepared by a facile and cost-efficient technique via etching process followed by modification of surface using a water based copolymer. The morphology of the surfaces and their chemical compositions were characterized by a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray spectrum (EDS). The water contact angle assessments were employed in order to evaluate the superhydrophobicity of the surfaces. The optimum conditions for inducing superhydrophobicity were obtained by investigating effect of polymer concentration, number of dip coating and drying time of Al samples. The durability assessment results also confirmed that excellent chemical and thermal stability of the coating after immersion in the solutions with different pHs and temperatures. Furthermore, the prepared superhydrophobic surfaces showed appropriate self-cleaning performance.