Effect of the Geometrical Structure on the Superhydrophobicity and Self-Cleaning Properties of Plasma-Treated Polyvinylidene Fluoride Fabrics

Hyae Rim Hong; Joon Seok Lee; Chung Hee Park

doi:10.1021/acsomega.2c01999

Effect of the Geometrical Structure on the Superhydrophobicity and Self-Cleaning Properties of Plasma-Treated Polyvinylidene Fluoride Fabrics

ACS Omega. 2022 Jul 21;7(30):26275-26288. doi: 10.1021/acsomega.2c01999. eCollection 2022 Aug 2.

Authors

Hyae Rim Hong^{1

2}, Joon Seok Lee³, Chung Hee Park^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Textiles, Merchandising and Fashion Design, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea.
² Research Institute of Human Ecology, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea.
³ Department of Fiber System Engineering, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsangbuk 38541, Republic of Korea.

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to develop superhydrophobic polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) fabrics to increase their water repellency and self-cleaning properties and to investigate the effects of the inherent fabric roughness on these properties. A PVDF fabric, composed entirely of electrospun PVDF filament yarns, and two PVDF/polyester (PET) fabrics with different weave densities are used. After treatment with O₂ plasma for 12 min and CF₄ plasma for 4 min, superhydrophobicity is achieved in all fabrics, resulting in an increase in water repellency and self-cleaning efficiency. The PVDF fabric with the lowest shedding angle exhibits the most pronounced droplet rebound behavior and the highest self-cleaning efficiency. Increases in surface inclination angle and droplet volume and a decrease in the drop fall height all contribute to conditions more favorable for water droplet repellency. The self-cleaning efficiencies of the plasma-treated PVDF fabric and high-density PVDF/PET fabric are higher for hydrophilic dust, in contrast to those of the untreated ones. The findings of this study are expected to enable the design of weaving or nano-structuring conditions that enhance the water repellency and self-cleaning properties of PVDF fabrics, for the development of stable energy-harvesting smart textiles.