Enhanced hydrophobicity of stainless-steel mesh surface by carbon nanotube arrays from flame

Abstract

Vertically aligned multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) arrays were synthesized directly on the stainless-steel (SS) mesh with grooves by flame method. The results from comprehensive characterizations confirmed the MWCNTs were prepared as array structures with good hydrophobicity on the surface of the SS mesh and were connected into a complete layer. The static contact angle of surface of the MWCNTs hydrophobicity coating was increased from the 113° to 141° as the growth of MWCNT arrays. The scalability from the hydrophobicity of the MWCNT arrays have been also verified when MWCNTs were anchored on another flexible substrate by the static contact angle test and water droplet rolling experiment. At the same time, the lipophilicity of MWCNTs was verified by dynamic contact angle test and oil-water separation experiment.