Wettability Alteration of Polymer Surfaces Produced by Scraping

In this paper, we present a simple, yet novel, method, utilizing scraping to obtain continuous rough microstructures over large areas, leading to a tunable wettability conversion from hydrophilicity to superhydrophobicity on polymer surfaces. A series of polymers ranging from hydrophobic to hydrophilie were used, and we found that the wettability of these polymer surfaces could be modified by the scraping process, irrespective of their hydrophobicity or hydrophilicity. More importantly, those polymers with contact angle ranging from 65 degrees to 90 degrees on their smooth surfaces also exhibit enhanced hydrophobicity after scraping. Our results indicate that 65 degrees is the critical value which is more suitable to define hydrophobicity and hydrophilicity for polymer materials. (c) Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, 2008