Phase separation-induced superhydrophobic polylactic acid films

Abstract

Superhydrophobic films that are simple, inexpensive, corrosion-resistant and multifunctional are in high demand for industrial applications. We propose a simple and economical phase separation method for fabricating superhydrophobic films using polylactic acid (PLA), nano-SiO₂ and a mixture of good and poor solvents to construct a rough surface with a nano/microstructured morphology. The phase separation-induced superhydrophobic PLA/SiO₂ composite film with a porous network structure has a water contact angle greater than 164°. This method can be applied to a variety of surfaces or used in large-scale industrial production. The fabricated superhydrophobic films may be applied in biological fields because PLA is a good biodegradable material.