The synthesis of low density polyethylene (LDPE) ultrahydrophobic surfaces
with controlled roughness and transparency was described in a two steps
O2 and CF4 plasmas treatment. Water contact angle as high as
171°, contact angle hysteresis less than 4°, and sliding angle as
4° were obtained on those surfaces. The surfaces with small roughness
reached 85% of transparency between 400 nm and 800 nm of wavelength.
Besides the dynamic dewetting experiments showed a particular behavior.
While they were wet with water, the surfaces loosed their ultrahydrophobic
properties. An explanation of this behavior was given according to both
Wenzel and Cassie Baxter wetting states.