Influence of the Composition of Graft Copolymers of Fluoroalkyl Methacrylates on Stability of the Superhydrophobic State of Stainless Steel Surface

The influence of the composition and structure of copolymers based on fluoroalkyl methacrylates with a low fluorine content in the monomer unit (from 3 to 7 atoms) on the stability of the superhydrophobic state in the mode of heterogeneous wetting of the surface of grade 304 stainless steel, which was preliminarily etched in hydrofluoric acid, is studied. The characteristics of the hierarchical texture of the steel surface, in particular, the depth of etching and penetration of polymer modifiers, are investigated. Superhydrophobic polymer coatings on stainless steel remain in the heterogeneous wetting regime for more than two days when a droplet of water is in continuous contact with the surface of the sample under saturated conditions: the contact angle changes from 168 degrees to 155 degrees.