Superhydrophobicity of PHBV fibrous surface with bead-on-string structure

• Published in: Journal of colloid and interface science 2008-04, Vol.320 (1), p.91-95
• Main Authors: Yoon, Young Il, Moon, Hyun Sik, Lyoo, Won Seok, Lee, Taek Seung, Park, Won Ho
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Beaded fibers; Chemistry; Colloidal state and disperse state; Electrospinning; Exact sciences and technology; General and physical chemistry; Plasma treatment; Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate- co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV); Superhydrophobicity; Surface physical chemistry
• ISSN: 0021-9797; 1095-7103
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2008.01.029

A poly(3-hydroxybutyrate- co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) fibrous surface with various bead-on-string structures was fabricated by electrospinning. PHBV was electrospun at various concentrations and then CF 4 plasma treatment was employed to further improve the hydrophobicity of the PHBV fiber surfaces. The surface morphology of the electrospun PHBV mats was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The surface properties were characterized by water contact angle (WCA) measurements and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The surface morphology of the electrospun PHBV fibrous mats with the bead-son-string structure varied with the solution concentration. The WCA of all of the electrospun PHBV mats was higher than that of the PHBV film. In particular, a very rough fiber surface including porous beads was observed when PHBV was electrospun from the solution with a concentration of 26 wt%. Also, its WCA further increased from 141° to 158° after CF 4 plasma treatment for 150 s. PHBV can be rendered superhydrophobic by controlling the surface morphology and surface energy, which can be achieved by adjusting the electrospinning and plasma treatment conditions. The water contact angles of all of the electrospun PHBV mats were much higher than that of the PHBV film.