Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) films were prepared by mixing Sylgard 182 binary elastomer (Dow Chemical)  with trichloro(1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorooctyl)silane (TCPFOS) at varying proportion, up to about 8(w/w%),  in order to increase the hydrophobicity of the films.  Results suggest that concentration of TCPFOS in the Sylgard liquid base prior to UV curing is directly proportional to contact angle; though the relationship is not linear.  Contact angle increased from 114o  (for pure PDMS) to about 122o with TCPFOS modification alone for films cast on plane glass surfaces. On  textured surfaces (grooves of a 33.5 rpm long playing record, for example), an increase in contact angle by about 30o was achieved. UV curing of the films increased the contact angle significantly, up to about 160o, and the process is reversible. When TCPFOS is chemically attached to PDMS surface, further increase in contact angle is observed for films cast on plane and textureded surfaces, resulting in truly superhydrophobic thin films. Details of the synthetic methods, surface characterization and the evaluation of superhydrophobicity of the thin films will be discussed.

Development of superhydrophobic PDMS thin films via chemical, optical and surface modifications

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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