Interactions of polyvinyl acetate dispersions with nanostructured superhydrophilic and superhydrophobic Ti6Al4V alloy surfaces

Abstract

Nanostructured bilayer thin films with superhydrophobic and superhydrophilic surfaces were prepared using Ti6Al4V alloy substrates which allowed for the comparative analysis of polyvinyl acetate (PVAc) particle adsorption as a function of the interface structure. The PVAc particles were obtained from emulsion polymerization of vinyl acetate. A superhydrophilic TiO2 nanofiber-based 3D network was created on the Ti6Al4V alloy substrate by application of a hydrothermal method. Subsequent UV-grafting of ultra-thin polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) layers resulted in a superhydrophobic surface. The modification steps were followed via Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Fourier Transform Spectroscopy, X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy, Field Emission-Scanning Electron Microscopy, contact angle and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy. A mechanism for the adsorption of PVAc at the two electrolyte/substrate interfaces could be revealed.