Facile Fabrication of Robust and Fluorine-Free Superhydrophobic PDMS/STA-Coated Cotton Fabric for Highly Efficient Oil-Water Separation

Oil–water separation using special wettability materials has received much attention due to its low energy consumption and high efficiency. Herein, a fluorine-free superhydrophobic cotton fabric (PDMS/STA-coated fabric) was successfully prepared by simple impregnation method hydroxyl-capped polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS-OH), tetraethoxysilane (TEOS), stearic acid (STA) as precursors. The investigation found that the cross-linking reactions between hydroxyl groups of PDMS-OH hydrolyzed TEOS enabled strong interaction fabric. Furthermore, suitable roughness surface coated established introducing STA long chain structure. contact angle this composite can reach 158.7° under optimal conditions desired roughness. oil/water efficiency PDMS/STA-coated is higher than 90% even after 10 cycles oil–water separation, oil flux 11862.42 L m−2 h−1. In addition, exhibits excellent chemical stability durability extreme such (HCl, pH = 1~2) alkali (NaOH, 13~14), hydrophobicity decreased 147° 300 abrasion testing.