Enhanced Mechanical Properties of Superhydrophobic Microfibrous Polystyrene Mats via Polyamide 6 Nanofibers

In this study, a large-scale superhydrophobic mat surface with an enhanced mechanical property by blending polystyrene (PS) and polyamide 6 (PA6) fibers was fabricated via a four-jet electrospinning technique. The achievement of surface superhydrophobicity of electrospun mat was ascribed to the combination of micro- and nanostructured surface roughness inherent in fibrous PS mats based on the inspiration of self-cleaning silver ragwort leaves. The mechanical properties of PS mats were significantly enhanced with adding the component of PA6 nanofibers in fibrous PS mats and regulated by tuning the number ratios of jets of PS/PA6 in the four-jet electrospinning process. The hydrophobicity of the resulting blend fibrous mats was slightly decreased with decreasing the number ratios of jets of PS/PA6. The fibrous mats formed with the number ratios of jets of 2/2 (PS/PA6) showed a water contact angle of 150° with a three times increased tensile strength compared with that of the pure fibrous PS mats.