The economical use of water-repellent coatings on polymeric materials in commercial and industrial applications is limited by their mechanical wear robustness and long-term durability. In this study, we show that rational design of inorganic, methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMS)-based coating applied to polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fabric yields a product that mimics superhydrophobic biological materials. The tunable hierarchical surface structure facilitated excellent resistance against various types of wear damage. Notably, the modified fabrics were able to display long-time durability and mechanical robustness. To demonstrate these features, a series of custom and standard testing protocols revealed that coating-to-substrate adhesion was remarkably high, as was the resistance to various mechanical abradents. The most intriguing characteristic observed during aging and abrasion was the enhancement in non-wettability reflected by water droplet roll-off behavior. The developed technology offers opportunities to design low cost, durable and functional textiles for both indoor.<br/>

Biomimetic water-repellent polyester fabrics with long-time durability and mechanical robustness

255th National Meeting (2018)

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