Durable and robust superhydrophobic fluororubber surface fabricated by template method with exceptional thermostability and mechanical stability

Abstract

Superhydrophobic surfaces have a wide application prospect in daily life and industrial fields. However, these surfaces are vulnerable to various thermal and mechanical damages during service and lose their functions. Herein, a superhydrophobic fluororubber surface with orderly layered microprotrusion structure was successfully prepared by directly replicating the surface microstructure of stainless-steel mesh. The prepared superhydrophobic surface exhibited excellent superhydrophobic performance (153.93 ± 0.39°) and durability. Due to the excellent thermal stability of fluororubber, the surface can maintain its superhydrophobicity even heated, and can also endure continuous high-temperature exposure. Especially, the superhydrophobicity of the surface does not change when contacting high-temperature droplets. In addition, as a result of the direct formation of microstructure on the surface, the superhydrophobic fluororubber surface also shows excellent robustness to manual friction, sandpaper abrasion and cyclic bending and twisting. The superhydrophobic fluororubber surface has great potential of application in the fields of efficient heat exchange, seawater desalination and other.