Superhydrophobic surface: Self-cleaning PDMs thin film utilising MWCNT

Abstract

Superhydrophobicity (SH) is the idea of minimizing the wetting of a surface and has the potential for a vast and diverse range of applications. Self-cleaning aurfaces, water-proof fabrics, non-stick containers and microfluidics are some of the applications already available. Advances in nanotechnology and promising experimental results have allowed the area to rapidly develop in recent years. In this project, simple production methods are investigated with a focus on cheap chemical medication of common polymers to render them SH and employs hydrophobic (water fearing) materials or more accurately SH materials which show extreme water repellency and are defined by contact angles greater than 150'. This SH is dependent on two important factors, firstly the chemical composition of the solid surface must demostrate a low surface energy and secondly a high degree of surface roughness is required.