Nanostructured fabric with robust superhydrophobicity induced by a thermal hydrophobic ageing process

Superhydrophobic surfaces have been fabricated for several applications in clothing, biomedical and engineering fields. However, the durability of the nanostructure itself and the over-coating can be easily damaged during usage by deformation and delamination, respectively. Herein, a robust method to fabricate a superhydrophobic fabric with durable mechanical and chemical properties with a thermally enhanced hydrophobic ageing process is reported. A superhydrophobic PET fabric with a static contact angle of over 160 degrees is fabricated by selective oxygen plasma etching, followed by a heating process, i.e. non-chemical finishing. XPS and XRD analysis indicate that a quick hydrophobic ageing occurred due to the reorientation of the PET polymer chains and an increase in newly formed crystallites on the PET surface after the thermal process. Water vapor transmission rate as well as air permeability of the plasma-etched and heated PET fabric sustain similar levels as those of untreated PET fabrics. In addition, the superhydrophobic PET fabric shows strong durability for washing, mechanical robustness and self-cleaning ability even after the surface nanostructures' damage. Thermal hydrophobic ageing process for nanostructured superhydrophobic textiles uses no chemicals for surface finishing, which results in improved wearing comfort and human/environment friendliness, thus attracting attention from the textile or biomedical goods and related industries.