Creating Superhydrophobic Polycarbonate Fiber Network from Hydrophilic Polycarbonate through Electrospinning

ABSTRACTConsiderable research has focused on the formation of superhydrophobic surfaces utilizing both the chemical composition of surfaces and geometric effects. In this study, a superhydrophobic polycarbonate (PC) network surface was produced from hydrophilic polycarbonate through electrospinning process. Complex surface geometries often related to material roughness is used to evaluate the wetting behavior of electrospun polycarbonate fiber network. The surface properties of electrospun polycarbonate fibers are therefore examined with the potential to exploit the fibers through enhancing hydrophobic behavior. Characterization and analysis of PC electrospun fiber and PC film surfaces were carried out to compare surface roughness with wetting contact angle. Analytical models are used to describe hydrophobicity in terms of roughness.