Understanding hydrodynamic wear in self-similar superhydrophobic coatings subjected to rapid droplet impacts.

Superhydrophobic materials rely on both chemical apolarity and surface roughness to achieve the high contact angles and the low roll-off angles that lead to self-cleaning and antibacterial properties. Current superhydrophobic coatings tend to be delicate and lose their properties easily when subjected to droplet impact. Such impact deteriorates these coatings through hydrodynamic wear; changing structure, eroding hydrophobic chemistry, and quickly leading to full wet out of the substrate.