3D printed superhydrophobic structures for sustainable manufacturing benefits: An overview

Abstract

Superhydrophobic properties have been present in nature for many millennia before human beings discovered their true capabilities and utilized them to revolutionize modern societies. The most familiar form of hydrophobicity found in nature is that of the lotus leaf, where its ultra-low water adhesion and self-cleaning properties make it one of the best hydrophobic elements formed naturally. Since its discovery, artificially created superhydrophobic elements have been used in many industries --maritime, automobile, and medical -- due to their self-cleaning, antibacterial, and corrosion-prevention properties. However, for a surface to become superhydrophobic, it must possess a greater roughness. To achieve this, microscopic- or nanoscopic-level modifications must be made to the surface through various experimentations. For a surface to be considered superhydrophobic, it must have a water contact angle greater than 150°. One cost-effective method of manufacturing superhydrophobic materials is three-dimensional (3D) printing (additive manufacturing), which has been gaining popularity in the recent past. A 3D printing design is initially created using computer-aided design (CAD) software. Then, the design information is transferred to a 3D printer through digital slicing of the CAD design. 3D printing allows the printing of objects with various functionalities at pre-designed locations in the object, so it is important to investigate these phenomena. This paper provides an overview of several studies that were conducted to achieve superhydrophobicity through the 3D printing process. The following section of the manuscript includes an introduction, literature review, methods of increasing surface roughness for superhydrophobicity, market-available 3D printing materials, and their applications, discussion on 3D printing technologies and concluding remarks.