An Ultra Facile Debonding Method to Develop a Superhydrophobic Surface Based on a Polymer Composite Film

Flexible and thin polymer surfaces with superhydrophobic characteristic have great prospects in many engineering fields, such as self-cleaning, ice-proofing, and drag reduction. However, the large-scale practical applications of superhydrophobic materials are still rarely reported and generally impeded by the existing fabrication methods due to the limits of complicated procedures, toxic solvent applications, harsh conditions occasionally, high cost and low yield. Herein, an ultra-facile one-step debonding method to develop superhydrophobic surface based on multilayer extruded macromolecular PA/PE composite film is developed. By employing thermoplasticity and extensibility of polymer film, the pristine smooth PA/PE film could get hierarchical microscale grass-like, block island and groove structures on its surface, forming an open air-pockets layer, which endows the normal film with new features of superhydrophobicity, low water adhesion, self-cleaning and ice-proofing with inexpensive, environmentally friendly, simple, and fast fabricating strategy.