Scalable Preparation of Superdurable, Self-Healing, and Biocompatible Superhydrophobic Poly(ethylene terephthalate) Fabrics

The chemical inertness of poly­(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) fabrics poses challenges in achieving superhydrophobic coatings with durable adhesion on their surfaces. Conventional surface modification methods such as alkali etching and plasma etching typically compromise the favorable mechanical properties of PET. In this study, polydopamine (PDA) was utilized to functionalize the PET fabric nondestructively by creating robust and reactive hydroxyl and amine groups on its surface, which were subsequently used as a binder of superhydrophobic modifiers such as fluorine-free octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS). By utilizing PDA to provide reactive groups, OTS undergoes self-assembly through hydrolysis on the surface of the PET fabric without introducing any inorganic nanoparticles while simultaneously forming low surface energy, strong covalent bonds, and rough surfaces. This robust material system provides a novel strategy to design and prepare superhydrophobic PET fabrics that can withstand extreme conditions and maintain superb water repellency even after 1000 times of abrasion and 100 washing cycles. Additionally, the room-temperature self-assembly properties of OTS provide the modified PET fabrics with efficient and repeatable room-temperature self-healing capability. This entire process through an environmentally friendly two-step immersion method enables large-scale production of superhydrophobic PET fabrics with wide applications in sports shoes and clothing.