Spray-coated superhydrophobic coatings with regenerability

Abstract

With the aim of creating superhydrophobic coatings with longtime service life, to avoid the permanent destroying under practical conditions, a simple technique for fabrication of superhydrophobic coatings with regenerability was developed using a facile and convenient method of spraying. The as-prepared poly(furfuryl alcohol)/calcium hydroxide (PFA/Ca(OH)₂) composite coatings were used to fabricate superhydrophobic coatings after modification with potassium stearate solution. When the superhydrophobic coating surfaces were destroyed, the damaged surfaces could be restored completely after being modified again, and the superhydrophobicity of the surfaces was regenerated at the same time. Additionally, the regenerative superhydrophobic coatings could perhaps show the most promise for a wide array of applications as they can be applied to various surfaces without limitations of size and shape, they do not typically require expensive materials and complicated application methods, and they can be easily restored after being destroyed.