Investigation of temperature and concentration of silane coupling agent in chemical modification solution to prepare superhydrophobic surface on 316 stainless steel

Su perydrophobic surface was prepared using a two-step process involving electrophoretic deposition (EPD) of nano TiO2 pa rticles on the surface and dipping it in an aqueous ethanol solution. EPD was carried out first to obtain TiO2 nonostructured coating while deep coating was performed using different concentration of Trimethoxy (propyl) silane (TMPSI) in aqueous ethanol solution under various temperature conditions to obtain superhydrophobic surface. The effective parameters in chemical m odification such as the concentration of TMPSI in ethanol aqueous solution and temperature of chemical modification solution w as studied. According to WCA tests, the optimized temperature and concentration of TMSI was determined meanwhile co ntact angle (CA) was increased from 44.1˚ to 150.7˚. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) image shows the non-uniform d ispersion of both nanometer-and micrometer-sized nano TiO2 particle on the modified surface.