Fabrication of Superhydrophobic Textiles
Munir Ashraf and Shagufta Riaz
Abstract Surface functionalization of natural and synthetic polymeric textile has
become the most appealing and contemporary research area to develop multifunctional textiles according to the global demand. Textiles surfaces have been modified
for properties like antibacterial, UV protection, antistatic, wrinkle resistant, superhydrophobic, hydrophilic, self-cleaning etc. by application of different inorganic and
organic compounds. In this regards rigorous research has been conducted on finding
best technique and their application method to mimic the nature so that superhydrophobic textile could be developed according to the demands of the da. In this
chapter the fundamentals of hydrophobicity/wettability has been described to give
comprehensive knowledge and the applied organic and inorganic material have been
described briefly that have been used for fabrication of superhydrophobic textile.
Keywords Nanoroughness · Superhydrophobicity · Lotus effect ·
Nanostructures · Self-cleaning
1 Introduction
Generally on the basis of wettability surfaces have been categorized as hydrophilic
and hydrophobic. Hydrophilic surfaces are water loving in nature, when water droplet
falls on, it spreads and absorbed by the surface very quickly instead of rolling off
onto the surface. The property of wettability or repellency is mainly dependent upon
the surface contact angle. If the striking water droplets make an angle less than 90°
then the water droplets would spread over the surface. But, in case of surface angle
greater than 90°, the water droplets would not spread and some could rolled off onto
the surface showing the hydrophobic characteristics of the material. However, if the
angle would be 150° or more than the water would not be absorbed by the surface
showing superhydrophobic nature of material. On super hydrophobic surfaces the
water droplet completely roll off.
M. Ashraf · S. Riaz (B)
Functional Textiles Research Group, National Textile University, 37610 Faisalabad, Pakistan
e-mail: shaguftariaz84@gmail.com
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2020
M. Shahid and R. Adivarekar (eds.), Advances in Functional Finishing of Textiles, Textile
Science and Clothing Technology, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-3669-4_8
195
Munir Ashraf and Shagufta Riaz
Abstract Surface functionalization of natural and synthetic polymeric textile has
become the most appealing and contemporary research area to develop multifunctional textiles according to the global demand. Textiles surfaces have been modified
for properties like antibacterial, UV protection, antistatic, wrinkle resistant, superhydrophobic, hydrophilic, self-cleaning etc. by application of different inorganic and
organic compounds. In this regards rigorous research has been conducted on finding
best technique and their application method to mimic the nature so that superhydrophobic textile could be developed according to the demands of the da. In this
chapter the fundamentals of hydrophobicity/wettability has been described to give
comprehensive knowledge and the applied organic and inorganic material have been
described briefly that have been used for fabrication of superhydrophobic textile.
Keywords Nanoroughness · Superhydrophobicity · Lotus effect ·
Nanostructures · Self-cleaning
1 Introduction
Generally on the basis of wettability surfaces have been categorized as hydrophilic
and hydrophobic. Hydrophilic surfaces are water loving in nature, when water droplet
falls on, it spreads and absorbed by the surface very quickly instead of rolling off
onto the surface. The property of wettability or repellency is mainly dependent upon
the surface contact angle. If the striking water droplets make an angle less than 90°
then the water droplets would spread over the surface. But, in case of surface angle
greater than 90°, the water droplets would not spread and some could rolled off onto
the surface showing the hydrophobic characteristics of the material. However, if the
angle would be 150° or more than the water would not be absorbed by the surface
showing superhydrophobic nature of material. On super hydrophobic surfaces the
water droplet completely roll off.
M. Ashraf · S. Riaz (B)
Functional Textiles Research Group, National Textile University, 37610 Faisalabad, Pakistan
e-mail: shaguftariaz84@gmail.com
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2020
M. Shahid and R. Adivarekar (eds.), Advances in Functional Finishing of Textiles, Textile
Science and Clothing Technology, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-3669-4_8
195