Effects of geometric parameters for superhydrophobicity of polymer surfaces fabricated by precision tooling machines

Abstract

Effects of geometric parameters are regarded as indicating factors that affect super hydrophobic surfaces. Micro-sized pillar-type structures were prepared using a precision tooling machine that was able to fabricate various structures precisely on polymer surfaces. The tooling machine has many advantages of low cost, short processing time, and precise control of geometric parameters compared to other micro-manufacturing techniques of polymers such as injection molding, replica molding, and hot embossing. Hydrophobicity of the polymer affected by surface conditions and geometric properties is considered. Furthermore, to examine the effects of low surface energy, we coated the CF2-based fluoropolymer onto various pillar structures. The some of the coated surfaces show the superhydrophobicity with a water contact angle greater than 150°. The hydrophobic and oleophobic properties are regarded as verifying the transition of the energy state and the tendency of wetting behavior depending on the geometric parameters and low surface energy property.