Fabrication of three‐dimensional micropatterned hydrophobic surfaces by fused filament fabrication printing technology

• DOI: 10.1002/appl.202400003
• Publication Date: 2024-05-23T09:58:25Z
• Authors: Sergio Galvagno; Loredana Tammaro; Sabrina Portofino; Fausta Loffredo; Anna De Girolamo ...; Fulvia Villani; Giuseppe Pandolfi; Pierpaolo Iovane; Paolo Tassini; Carmela Borriello
• Keywords: Fused filament fabrication

Abstract In recent years, the interest in structured hydrophobic surfaces has considerably grown, finding applications many industrial fields, including aerospace, automotive, and biomedical. Three‐dimensional (3D) printing technology is a simple, rapid, economic process to fabricate based on neat polymers composite materials, allowing working with wide variety of plastic materials. The manufactured show roughness depending design resolution: this characteristic ideal achieve superhydrophobic properties. Furthermore, patterned surface structures can be printed by fused filament fabrication (FFF), so increasing character samples; indeed, micro‐ nanosurface are required make surface. study, 3D micropatterned textures pillars were FFF using polylactide (PLA) polypropylene (PP) as polymer filaments PLA/carbon nanotubes (PLA/CNTs) PP/carbon fibers (PP/CF) filaments. Morphologies specimens analyzed optical microscopy scanning electron microscopy. Good correspondence was found between pillar dimensions edge‐edge distance computer aided (CAD) composites 3D‐printed samples. Their wettability evaluated static contact angle (CA) measurements. Results clearly significant increase water CA values up 50% all samples respect flat surfaces. This improvement achieved microstructuring without use nanoparticles and/or chemical treatment.