Fabricating an enhanced stable superhydrophobic surface on copper plates by introducing a sintering process

The superhydrophobic surface has the potential for use in functional applications. This study reports a novel method for coupling a sintering process with a traditional technique based on the solution-immersion method to prepare a stable superhydrophobic surface. The use of a sintering process aids in the enhancement of the adhesive strength and acid resistance of the surface structure. The advantage of using this method lies in its flexibility in regulating the processing parameters and functional behaviours. The influences of different processing parameters were experimentally investigated. The surface treated with a sintering process remains superhydrophobic with a contact angle of >150 degrees after immersion in an acid solution for 120 h. The sintered surface maintains good integrity after experiencing ultrasonic vibration for 5 min. The results indicate that the sintering temperature must be optimized to increase the adhesive strength and maintain sufficient hydrophobicity. The modification time is an important factor related to the level of hydrophobicity. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.