Synthesis and Characterization of Hydrophobic Polystyrene Microspheres Film

A facile strategy for hydrophobic films based on oil-infused polystyrene microspheres with the unit of γ-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane is demonstrated. Specifically, the rough polystyrene microspheres with unit of γ-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane are synthesized by suspension polymerization. These hydrophobic films were used, for the first time, as rough substrates for loading low surface tension silicone oils as lubricating liquids for the fabrication of polystyrene films. The properties of the films can be well tuned by adjusting the toluene and γ-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane balance of the polystyrene microspheres and the mass ratio of toluene to γ-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane reached 7 : 1.5 was found to be the most effective. The hydrophobic films could easily repel water and the water contact angle of the film was 150° before infusing oil and reached 139° after infusing oil. The morphology, structure and composition of polystyrene microspheres were characterized by SEM and FTIR. The content of trapped lubricant was quantified by silicone oil decomposition and measured by thermogravimetric analysis. Bacterial attachment tests showed that silicone oil infusion inhibited the attachment and growth of E. coli. The resulting films maintain water repellency and slipperiness after freezing, water flowing, and friction.