Superhydrophobicity on transparent fluorinated ethylene propylene films with nano-protrusion morphology by Ar + O2 plasma etching: Study of the degradation in hydrophobicity after exposure to the environment

摘要: Fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) films were made superhydrophobic by Ar + O2 plasma etching process. Field emission scanning electron microscopy and atomic force studies of the plasma-treated FEP samples detected presence uniformly distributed nano-protrusions exhibiting a low surface roughness necessary for maintaining transparency samples. In fact, optical transmittance measurements showed an improvement in after treatment. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic analysis –CF x –O–CF – (x = 1, 2, or 3) linkages both untreated which explains hydrophilic nature (contact angle below 90∘) sample. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy no changes bulk properties Moreover, exposure to environment caused surfaces lose their property indefinite amount time. This has been further studied through water immersion experiment explained wetting state transition from Cassie Wenzel state.