Laser microstructuring for fabricating superhydrophobic polymeric surfaces

In this paper we show the fabrication of hydrophobic polymeric surfaces through laser microstructuring. By using 70-ps pulses from a Q-switched and mode-locked Nd:YAG laser at 532 nm, we were able to produce grooves with different width and separation, resulting in square-shaped pillar patterns. We investigate the dependence of the morphology on the surface static contact angle for water, showing that it is in agreement with the Cassie-Baxter model. We demonstrate the fabrication of a superhydrophobic polymeric surface, presenting a water contact angle of 157 degrees. The surface structuring method presented here seems to be an interesting option to control the wetting properties of polymeric surfaces. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

FAPESP (Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

CNPQ (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico)

U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR)

Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) [FA9550-07-1-0374]