Artificial lotus leaf prepared using a 1945 patent and a commercial textile

Two polyester textiles, conventional polyester and microfiber polyester fabrics, were hydrophobized using a simple, patented water-repellent silicone coating procedure. Water contact angles on these two surfaces are theta(A)/theta(R)) 151 degrees/140 degrees and theta(A)/theta(R)) 170 degrees/165 degrees, respectively. A smooth surface of this of this coating exhibits theta(A)/theta(R) = 110 degrees/100 degrees. The binary length scale topography (similar to 2 mu m/similar to 50 mu m) of the microfiber polyester is responsible for relieving receding contact line pinning and promoting water repellency that is superior to that of the lotus leaf. The recent literature on superhydrophobic surfaces is criticized for neglecting literature of the 1940s.