Poly(1,6-heptadiyne)/ABS functionalized microfibers for hydrophobic applications

© 2019, The Polymer Society, Taipei. We report an electrospun & thermally stable micro-fibers of poly(1,6-heptadiyne) (PHD), modified with ABS. Developed micro-fibers demonstrated hydrophobicity (WCA~145o ± 2o), and exhibited hierarchical surface morphology (confirmed by FESEM analysis). Simulation study showed Chi parameter i.e. χc = 7.88, & free energy of mixing i.e. 4.67 kcal/mol, thereby demonstrating its feasibility for electrospinning. PHD/ABS microfibers demonstrated low ice-adhesion ability, where, it effectively removed frozen water droplets in 8 s from hydrophobic surface, under an air-stream rate of 78 kPa/s. High thermal stability (200 °C), hydrophobicity and low ice-adhesion ability, demonstrate that PHD/ABS microfibers can be effectively used for multifunctional engineering/industrial applications. [Figure not available: see fulltext.].