Sustainable Manufacturing of Multifunctional Fluorine-Free Superslippery Flexible Surfaces

Surface contamination and friction result in significant energy losses with widespread environmental impact. In the present work, we developed fluorine-free super-slippery surfaces employing environmentally friendly and simple biofuel-based flame treatment of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). Through a unique combination of processing parameters, highly transparent (>90%) and flexible films were engineered with omniphobic, anti-icing, and ultra-low friction properties. The processed films showed an extremely low tilting angle (<5°) and contact angle hysteresis (<4°) against different liquids, even under subzero temperatures. The coefficient of friction (COF) reduced to 0.01 after processing compared to ∼1 for PDMS. Extremely low ice adhesion of <20 kPa and enhanced freezing time ensured anti-icing behavior. The exceptional multidimensional traits were derived from the extremely stable silicone lubricant layer ensured by the hierarchically structured wrinkles. Wind tunnel tests showed that an air drag velocity of less than 0.5 m/s was sufficient to initiate droplet motion, highlighting low interfacial friction that leads to an anti-staining nature. Sustaining the self-cleaning and anti-staining characteristics, the processed surface showed utmost durability under different harsh conditions. The super-slippery surfaces with multifunctional characteristics fabricated through a sustainable route can be effectively used for various engineering and industrial applications.