Superhydrophobic polymer fabrication
View Patent ↗A superhydrophobic polymer fabrication is provided. According to one method for preparing a superhydrophobic polymer fabrication, the superhydrophobic polymer fabrication can be fabricated quickly and easily, and the superhydrophobic surface can be repeatedly imprinted using a template, so that mass production of the superhydrophobic polymer fabrication over a large area can be economically implemented.
1. A superhydrophobic polymer fabrication comprising:
a micron-sized terrace structure on a surface of the polymer fabrication, wherein the terrace structure comprises amorphous fragments irregularly distributed on the surface of the polymer fabrication; and
a nano-sized fiber structure formed on the terrace structure,
wherein the micron-sized terrace structure and the nano-sized fiber structure provide the superhydrophobic properties at the surface of the polymer fabrication, and
wherein said surface of the polymer fabrication is a polymer.
2. The superhydrophobic polymer fabrication of claim 1 , wherein the polymer is a thermoplastic polymer.
3. The superhydrophobic polymer fabrication of claim 2 , wherein the thermoplastic polymer is selected from the group consisting of a polyester, a polyalkylene, a vinyl polymer, a polyamide, a polyacetal, a polyacrylate, a polycarbonate, a polystyrene, a polyurethane, acrylonitril-butadiene-styrene copolymer, a halogenated polyalkylene, a polyarylene oxide, and a polyarylene sulfide.
4. The superhydrophobic polymer fabrication of claim 3 , wherein the polymer is a polyester.
5. The superhydrophobic polymer fabrication of claim 3 , wherein the polymer is a polyalkylene.
6. The superhydrophobic polymer fabrication of claim 5 , wherein the polymer is high density polyethylene (HDPE).
7. A kit comprising:
a first superhydrophobic polymer fabrication comprising a first surface; and
a second superhydrophobic polymer fabrication comprising a second surface,
wherein the first and second surfaces have the same replicated structure comprising:
a micron-sized terrace structure on a surface of the polymer fabrication, wherein the terrace structure comprises amorphous fragments irregularly distributed on the surface; and
a nano-sized fiber structure formed on the terrace structure,
wherein the micron-sized terrace structure and the nano-sized fiber structure provide the superhydrophobic properties at the surface of the polymer fabrication, and
wherein said first surface of the first polymer fabrication is a polymer and said second surface of the second polymer fabrication is a polymer.
8. The kit according to claim 7 , wherein said replicated structure is obtained from a metal template prepared by chemical etching.
9. The kit according to claim 8 , wherein the kit is obtained by a method comprising:
applying heat and pressure to the first surface contacting said template to form the micron-sized terrace structure and the nano-sized fiber structure on the terrace structure; and
applying heat and pressure to the second surface contacting said template to form the micron-sized terrace structure and the nano-sized fiber structure on the terrace structure.
10. The kit according to claim 7 , wherein the first and second surfaces have a static contact angle of about 150° or more.
11. A superhydrophobic polymer fabrication comprising a micron-sized terrace structure formed on the surface of the polymer fabrication wherein the terrace structure comprises amorphous fragments irregularly distributed on the surface of the polymer fabrication and a nano-sized fiber structure formed on the terrace structure wherein the micron-sized terrace structure and the nano-sized fiber structure provide the superhydrophobic properties at the surface of the polymer fabrication, wherein said polymer fabrication is obtained by the method comprising:
applying heat and pressure to a surface of a polymer contacting a template to form the micron-sized terrace structure wherein the terrace structure comprises amorphous fragments irregularly distributed on the surface of the polymer fabrication and the nano-sized fiber structure on the terrace structure; and
removing the replicated polymer fabrication from the template.
12. The superhydrophobic polymer fabrication of claim 11 , wherein said surface has a static contact angle of about 150° or more.
13. The superhydrophobic polymer fabrication of claim 11 , wherein said polymer is a thermoplastic polymer.
14. The superhydrophobic polymer fabrication of claim 11 , wherein said template is metal.
15. The superhydrophobic polymer fabrication of claim 14 , wherein said template is formed by chemical etching.
16. The superhydrophobic polymer fabrication of claim 15 , wherein the chemical etching is performed for a time ranging from 1 second to 10 minutes.
17. The superhydrophobic polymer fabrication of claim 1 , wherein the surface has a static contact angle of about 150° or more.
18. The superhydrophobic polymer fabrication of claim 17 , wherein the surface has a contact angle hysteresis of about 5° or less.