Scalable Preparation\nof Superdurable, Self-Healing,\nand Biocompatible Superhydrophobic Poly(ethylene terephthalate) Fabrics

The chemical inertness of poly(ethylene terephthalate)\n(PET) fabrics\nposes challenges in achieving superhydrophobic coatings with durable\nadhesion on their surfaces. Conventional surface modification methods\nsuch as alkali etching and plasma etching typically compromise the\nfavorable mechanical properties of PET. In this study, polydopamine\n(PDA) was utilized to functionalize the PET fabric nondestructively\nby creating robust and reactive hydroxyl and amine groups on its surface,\nwhich were subsequently used as a binder of superhydrophobic modifiers\nsuch as fluorine-free octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS). By utilizing\nPDA to provide reactive groups, OTS undergoes self-assembly through\nhydrolysis on the surface of the PET fabric without introducing any\ninorganic nanoparticles while simultaneously forming low surface energy,\nstrong covalent bonds, and rough surfaces. This robust material system\nprovides a novel strategy to design and prepare superhydrophobic PET\nfabrics that can withstand extreme conditions and maintain superb\nwater repellency even after 1000 times of abrasion and 100 washing\ncycles. Additionally, the room-temperature self-assembly properties\nof OTS provide the modified PET fabrics with efficient and repeatable\nroom-temperature self-healing capability. This entire process through\nan environmentally friendly two-step immersion method enables large-scale\nproduction of superhydrophobic PET fabrics with wide applications\nin sports shoes and clothing.