Underwater saturation resistance and electrolytic functionality for superhydrophobic nanocomposites

In the current study, water immersion saturation characterization and saturation resistance are investigated for various superhydrophobic polymer nanocomposite coatings. Two different diagnostic methods are used to characterize superhydrophobic performance longevity under continuous water contact: optical reflectivity (associated with captured air layer) and static contact angle (measured immediately after an immersion period). The results indicate that retention of optical reflectivity and superhydrophobicity vary significantly among coatings, and that superhydrophobicity can be lost within a few minutes whereas optical reflectivity can be maintained for hours. Novel electrolytic reactions on electroconductive polymeric nanocomposites can extend superhydrophobic duration by 400 %.