A simple way to fabricate an aluminum sheet with superhydrophobic and self-cleaning properties

摘要

A superhydrophobic aluminum sheet is fabricated via a hot water immersing process and subsequently surface modification with heptadecafluorodecyltrimethoxy-silane(HTMS).As revealed by the scan electron microscopy(SEM), X-ray diffraction(XRD),and Fourier-transform infrared spectrophotometer(FTIR) results,a rough pseudoboehmite film is formed on the aluminum sheet,and HTMS molecules are grafted on the film surface successfully.These two factors make the treated aluminum sheet present superhydrophobicity with a water contact angle larger than 160°and sliding angle less than 5°,and possess a self-cleaning property.Furthermore,the flexible superhydrophobic aluminum sheet could be pasted to a cylinder surface without destroying its superhydrophobicity.At the end,the effect of hot water treatment time on superhydrophobicity is investigated.