Enhanced mechanical properties of low-surface energy thin films by simultaneous plasma polymerization of fluorine and epoxy containing polymers

•Thin films of poly(hexafluorobutyl acrylate-glycidyl methacrylate) can be deposited by PECVD.•The coated surfaces are hydrophobic due to the long fluorinated side chains.•The hydrophobicity of the coating is observed to be stable under harsh conditions.•Film durability is attributed to the mechanical strength of the films due to their epoxide functionality. Thin films of poly(2,2,3,4,4,4 hexafluorobutyl acrylate-glycidyl methacrylate) (P(HFBA-GMA) were deposited on different surfaces using an inductively coupled RF plasma reactor. Fluorinated polymer was used to impart hydrophobicity, whereas epoxy polymer was used for improved durability. The deposition at a low plasma power and temperature was suitable for the functionalization of fragile surfaces such as textile fabrics. The coated rough textile surfaces were found to be superhydrophobic with water contact angles greater than 150° due to the high retention of long fluorinated side chains. The hydrophobicity of the surfaces was observed to be stable after many exposures to ultrasonification tests, which is attributed to the mechanical durability of the films due to their epoxide functionality. FTIR and XPS analyses of the deposited films confirmed that the epoxide functionality of the polymers increased with increasing glycidyl methacrylate fraction in the reactor inlet. The modulus and hardness values of the films also increase with increasing epoxide functionality.