Towards superhydrophobic coatings made by non-fluorinated polymers sprayed from a supercritical solution

• The objective of this study was to create a superhydrophobic surface using polymers that are non-fluorinated and applying them to a surface via rapid expansion of a supercritical solution (RESS). Solubility studies of poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) and a statistical copolymer of vinyl acetate and vinyl pivalate (P(VAc-VPi))in supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO(2)) were carried out using an extraction procedure. It was found that the most suitable process parameters for spraying these polymers using the RESS technique were 30 MPa, 40 degrees C and 10% (v/v) acetone as a co-solvent. The surfaces produced were characterized in terms of their morphology and hydrophobic properties by scanning electron microscopy and contact angle measurements, respectively. The most hydrophobic surfaces were obtained by spraying the P(VAc-VPi) copolymers, giving advancing water contact angles in the range of 120-155 degrees due to the hydrophobic character of the polymer and the microstructure formed with the RESS technique. These results show great promise for the creation of superhydrophobic surfaces using non-fluorinated polymers applied to surfaces via RESS technique.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Kemi -- Polymerkemi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Chemical Sciences -- Polymer Chemistry (hsv//eng)

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Kemi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Chemical Sciences (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Supercritical carbon dioxide

Polymer

RESS

Surface coating

Supercritical carbon dioxide

Polymer

RESS

Surface coating

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)