Polyethylene ultrahydrophobic surface: synthesis and original properties

The synthesis of low density polyethylene (LDPE) ultrahydrophobic surfaces with controlled roughness and transparency was described in a two steps O-2 and CF4 plasmas treatment. Water contact angle as high as 171degrees, contact angle hysteresis less than 4degrees, and sliding angle as 4degrees were obtained on those surfaces. The surfaces with small roughness reached 85% of transparency between 400 nm and 800 nm of wavelength. Besides the dynamic dewetting experiments showed a particular behavior. While they were wet with water, the surfaces loosed their ultrahydrophobic properties. An explanation of this behavior was given according to both Wenzel and Cassie Baxter wetting states.