Fabrication of superhydrophobic polyethylene parts by rotomolding

Abstract

In this study, the feasibility of obtaining superhydrophobic polyethylene parts by rotational molding has been confirmed. The superhydrophobicity is obtained through the surface modification of the thermoplastic by using a microrough aluminium mold. The treatment used to create the microroughness of the mold was an electrochemical process followed by heating at 180 ˚C. Once the superhydrophobic aluminium mold has been prepared, several rotomolding cycles were carried out. The mold was then used for obtaining rotomolded test cube parts using a conventional polyethylene grade. The behavior of the parts under a water jet show a superhydrophobic behavior of the surface, fact confirmed by the measurement of contact angles above 145˚.