Design of artificial lotus leaves using nonwoven fabric

The apparent contact angles of a droplet deposited on the surfaces of thermal-bonded nonwoven fabrics were presented, and the characteristics required for a superhydrophobic surface were described. For a nonwoven superhydrophobic surface, the Cassie–Baxter model describes the wetting of rough surfaces. Using topological and chemical surface modifications of nylon 6,6 nonwoven fabric, artificial Lotus leaves having water contact angles >150° were prepared. Good agreement between the predictions based on the original Cassie–Baxter model and experiments was obtained. The angle at which a water droplet rolls off the surface has also been used to define a superhydrophobic surface. Superhydrophobic surfaces were prepared by two criteria: a low-surface energy and a properly designed surface roughness.