Polyethylene ultrahydrophobic surface: synthesis and original properties

Abstract

The synthesis of low density polyethylene (LDPE) ultrahydrophobic surfaces with controlled roughness and transparency was described in a two steps O₂ and CF₄ plasmas treatment. Water contact angle as high as 171°, contact angle hysteresis less than 4°, and sliding angle as 4° were obtained on those surfaces. The surfaces with small roughness reached 85% of transparency between 400 nm and 800 nm of wavelength. Besides the dynamic dewetting experiments showed a particular behavior. While they were wet with water, the surfaces loosed their ultrahydrophobic properties. An explanation of this behavior was given according to both Wenzel and Cassie Baxter wetting states.