Biomimetic superhydrophobic and highly oleophobic cotton textiles

Langmuir. 2007 Dec 18;23(26):13158-63. doi: 10.1021/la702174x. Epub 2007 Nov 7.

Abstract

We report a biomimetic procedure to prepare superhydrophobic cotton textiles. By in situ introducing silica particles to cotton fibers to generate a dual-size surface roughness, followed by hydrophobization with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), normally hydrophilic cotton has been easily turned superhydrophobic, which exhibits a static water contact angle of 155 degrees for a 10 microL droplet. The roll-off angle of water droplets depends on the droplet volume, ranging from 7 degrees for a droplet of 50 microL to 20 degrees for a 7 microL droplet. When a perfluoroalkyl chain is introduced to the silica particle surface, the superhydrophobic textile also becomes highly oleophobic, as demonstrated by a static contact angle of 140 degrees and a roll-off angle of 24 degrees for a 15 microL sunflower oil droplet.

MeSH terms

  • Cotton Fiber*
  • Dimethylpolysiloxanes / chemistry
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
  • Molecular Mimicry*
  • Silicones / chemistry
  • Surface Properties
  • Textiles*

Substances

  • Dimethylpolysiloxanes
  • Silicones
  • baysilon