Microstructure and Hydrophobicity of PVDF-Based Films Prepared by Electrospinning Technique

Nowadays, demand for the development of anti-deicing technology is becoming more and more urgent. Multifunctional is the inevitable choice of application of superhydrophobic materials in the area of anti-icing. In this work, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)-based superhydrophobic films were successfully prepared by an electrospinning technique. Effects of electrospinning parameters and material compositions on the films’ hydrophobic property and morphology were studied. When the drum collector rotation speed was 300 rpm, pure PVDF samples showed the best hydrophobic property, and the maximum WCA value was 145.8°. Compared with pure PVDF films and SiO2/PVDF films, PZT/SiO2/PVDF films (PZT = lead zirconate titanate) showed better hydrophobic property, whose WCA values were greater than 152° (the maximum WCA value was 158.5°), and the roll-off angle (RA) values were less than 9.5°. The microstructure of all samples was mainly composed of blocks with irregular shapes, with some microspheres, nanofibers, and holes. Nanoscale papillae and nanoparticles formed on the surface of each block and microsphere. The comprehensive effect of these factors contributed to the enhancement of hydrophobicity. At last, PZT/SiO2/PVDF films exhibited longer delay freezing time and curing time. When the added F–SiO2 (SiO2 modified by perfluorodecyl triethoxysilane) content was 25%, PZT-5# exhibited a delay freezing time of 50 s and a curing time of 204 s.