Fabrication of Durable, Chemically Stable, Self-Healing Superhydrophobic Fabrics Utilizing Gellable Fluorinated Block Copolymer for Multifunctional Applications

Abstract

Limited durability and complex materials restrict the application of superhydrophobic fabrics in daily life. In this work, gellable fluorinated block copolymer poly(dodecafluoroheptyl methacrylate)-block-poly(3-(triethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate) (PDFMA-b-PTEPM) was used to fabricate adhesive-free superhydrophobic poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) fabrics via a simple dip-coating technology and sol–gel reaction. The growth of silica nanoparticles builds up a rough hierarchical structure and provides sol–gel reaction sites of PTEPM segments. The grafting of block copolymer significantly reduced the surface free energy of the fabrics, resulting in an excellent superhydrophobicity with a water contact angle of 160.2°. Benefiting from extensive chemical bond grafting and cross-linking of the PTEPM segment, the fabric exhibits excellent durability in mechanical abrasion, chemical treatment, and washing. The coating has withstood 50 sandpaper abrasion cycles and 400 soft friction cycles and can maintain superhydrophobic properties in various solvents, freezing and a wide pH range. These superhydrophobic fabrics with a long life span possess self-cleaning, anti-icing, oil–water separation, and self-healing capabilities. The multifunctional fabrics developed in this study are durable and easy to produce, possessing the potential for applications in industry and daily life.

Superhydrophobic Al2O3/MMT-PDMS Coated Fabric for Self-Cleaning and Oil–Water Separation Application

“…Results showed that a ∼9.1% drop in WCA was observed after 200 cycles of scratching (WCA plummeted from 174.6 to 158.7° in the 200th cycle). The formation of cross-linking and grafting structures via silanol groups confirms the robustness of the nanostructure, providing protection against easy damage or degradation …”

“…The formation of cross-linking and grafting structures via silanol groups confirms the robustness of the nanostructure, providing protection against easy damage or degradation. 77 The fabric retained its super hydrophobicity, and the coated layer displayed promising resistance against scratching. The results indicated that the coated layer exhibited substantial strength and resilience to abrasion and wear, as experienced during regular usage, including friction and contact with rough surfaces.…”

Influence of Pendant Fluoroalkyl Segments on Properties of Fluoroethylene and Vinyl Ether Polymers and Their Hydrophobic Coatings

“…1 H NMR spectra of CTFE-IBVE 2 , CTFE-IBVE 2 -DFMA 5 , and CTFE-IBVE 2 -DFMA 5 -EGMAE polymers are shown in Figure , and the chemical shifts δ = 3.51 ppm (−CHO-, H, a), δ = 3.43 ppm (−OCH 2 –, 2H, b), δ = 1.72–1.95 ppm (−CCHC-, H, c), and δ = 0.90 ppm (−CCH 3 -, 3H, d) are attributed to the structure of IBVE . The chemical shifts δ = 0.88–0.92 ppm (−CCH 3 –, 3H, e) and δ = 5.4–5.5 ppm (−CHF–, H, f) are attributed to the structure of DFMA . The chemical shift δ = 3.66–3.76 ppm (−CCH 2 O–, 2H, g) is assigned to the structure of EGMAE.…”

Highly Antibacterial and Self-Healing Janus Fabric for Effective Body Moisture/Thermal Management and Durable Waterproof

“…In this context, the utilization of simple and environmentally friendly preparation methods has significant importance for promoting green, sustainable development. − Among these are hydrophobic textiles, which can be produced by incorporating hydrophobic groups into the fabric’s microscale textures. − However, degradation of the hydrophobic surface of the fabric occurs as a result of exposure to various chemical substances, regular washing, and physical damage such as rubbing and scuffing. Therefore, to ensure the long-term durability of hydrophobic surfaces, it is necessary to develop and produce fabrics with self-healing properties. − Researchers and industry are becoming more interested in waterborne polyurethane (WPU)-based smart materials with self-healing capabilities as a result of their environmental friendliness in the development of smart materials . WPU is one of the versatile polymeric materials that offers a wide variety of applications and the benefit of reducing health concerns due to the lack of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).…”