Mechanical and wettability properties of chemically modified surface texture with carbon nanotubes

In this study, surface textures were fabricated and used to improve mechanical durability for superhydrophobic and low-hysteresis surfaces. LIGA-fabrication lithography was combined with a spray-coating method to create hierarchical structures of surface-texture composites with carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The effect that surface coverage of these textures has on surface wettability has been investigated. Poly(methyl methacrylate) was used to strengthen the bond between CNTs and the surface texture. The wettability transition between superhydrophilicity and superhydrophobicity can be switched by UV irradiation. The dynamics of liquid droplets was investigated as well. Also. the mechanical durability of the fabricated surfaces was evaluated by a universal ball-on-plate tribometer. The results indicate that the CNT/textured surface exhibits a strong potential for durable extension of superhydrophobic surfaces.