Fabricating super-hydrophobic polydimethylsiloxane surfaces by a simple filler-dissolved process

The self-cleaning effect of super-hydrophobic surfaces has attracted the attention of researchers. Typical ways of manufacturing superhydrophobic surfaces include the use of either dedicated equipment or a complex chemical process. In this study, a simple innovative fillerdissolved method is developed using mainly powder salt and rinsing to form hydrophobic surfaces. This method can produce large superhydrophobic surfaces with porous and micro rib surface structures. It can also be applied to curved surfaces, including flexible membranes. The contact angle of the manufactured artificial hydrophobic surface is about 160°. Furthermore, water droplets roll off the surface readily at a sliding angle of less than 5°, resembling the nonwetting lotus like effect.