A novel strategy for fabricating robust superhydrophobic fabrics by environmentally-friendly enzyme etching.

Graphical abstract Highlights • The superhydrophobic finishing strategy is environmentally-friendly and fluorine-free. • This system is suitable for multiple biomass fabrics by enzymatic hydrolysis etching. • The construction do no harm to colors and patterns of dyed fabrics. • This method can construct multifunctional fabrics for efficient self-cleaning and versatile oil-water separation. Abstract Superhydrophobic silk fabrics were prepared using an environmentally friendly enzyme-etching approach, followed by the modification with methyltrichlorosilane (MTCS) via a simple thermal chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process at 70 °C. The effects of the concentration, treatment time and temperature of enzyme on the etched surface properties were discussed. The composite superhydrophobic silk fabrics demonstrated excellent self-cleaning ability, relatively unscathed effecting their intrinsic properties such as the luster, softness, color and style of the fabrics. Furthermore, these treated fabrics demonstrated excellent mechanical durability after silane-treatment as evidenced by the cyclic abrasion and laundering tests. The composite superhydrophobic cotton fabrics have also demonstrated a high efficiency in oil-water separation. The facile technology via enzymatic hydrolysis to etch the substrate possesses extensive potential applications on various other cellulose-based substrates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]