Creating robust superamphiphobic coatings for both hard and soft materials

Abstract

Most superhydrophobic surfaces lose their water-repellency when either contaminated by oily liquids or by being mechanically damaged. Superamphiphobic surfaces are ones that repel both oil and water. However, to date such surfaces are hampered by being mechanically weak. Robust superamphiphobic surfaces with highly water and oil repellent properties are desired for a wide range of environments. Reported herein is a superamphiphobic coatings fabricated by a facile deposition method and followed by a low surface energy materials modification. These coatings can be applied on both hard and soft materials to repel water, glycerol, peanut-oil droplets and some organic solvents. Falling sand abrasion, UV irradiation and aqueous media immersion were used to test the mechanical robustness and durability of the superamphiphobic coatings. A multi-cycle stretch/release test was developed to characterize the robustness of the self-cleaning soft materials. A coated rubber-bond retained both water and oil repellency even after 50 stretch/release cycles. These tests show that the superamphiphobic coatings have remarkable mechanical robustness and UV/aqueous media resistance and can be readily applied to a wide variety of materials to form self-cleaning surfaces that are extremely robust and durable even under intense strains.