One-step foaming method to functional polyurethane absorbents foam

Abstract

ABSTRACTTraditional preparation of superhydrophobic absorbents relies on solvents or further modification with silane. For environmental reasons, it is ideal to find ways that reduce or completely non-solvent. Herein, we show that superhydrophobic sponges can be obtained without solvents by the foaming process. Rough surface morphology and low surface energy were achieved simultaneously during the formation of superhydrophobic foam without further modification. The time required for oil–water separation was shortened significantly, when combined the sponge with a vacuum system. Importantly, the obtained sponge can retain its high oil absorption capacity after several cycles of oil–water separation. The sponge is easy to be scaled up and we have fabricated foams in large scale (37 cm × 30 cm × 22 cm) for making it an ideal candidate for practical application.