Superoleophobic meshes with relatively low hysteresis and sliding angles by electropolymerization: importance of the polymer-growth control
Résumé
In order to study the effects of the polymer growth and the polymer nanostructuration on stainless steel meshes (opening of 100 microns), we report the behavior of three electrodeposited polymers varying the deposition charge (Qs) in order to reach superoleophobic meshes with low adhesion (low hysteresis (H) and sliding angles (alpha)). We show the importance to control the polymer growth around the mesh wires (two-dimensional growth) in order to avoid the re-covering of the mesh openings. Indeed, both the polymer micro/nanostructuration as well as the presence of the holes are necessary to highly reduce the solid-liquid contact area and to reach superoleophobic properties with low adhesion. Here, with the best polymer, superoleophobic properties are obtained with apparent contact angles of 160° for sunflower oil (H = 13°, alpha = 10°), 155° for hexadecane (H = 29°, alpha = 30°), 143° for dodecane (sticking behavior) and 134° for decane (sticking behavior).