Surface Modification\nof Commercially Available PLA\nPolymer Mesh

Abstract

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is a promising environmentally\nfriendly\ncandidate to replace petroleum-based polymers. However, its inherent\nhydrophilic wettability is a drawback for applications in the textile\nand packaging industry, and outdoor applications such as exclusion\nnets on plants. Even though researchers have successfully altered\nthe wettability of tightly controlled amorphous PLA samples in the\nlab, none have yet reported the modification of commercial PLA. The\ngoal of this article was to develop an easily scalable surface modification\ntechnique to alter the wettability of commercially available, highly\ncrystalline PLA. In this work, a surface modification techniquecalled\ndip-dip-dry (DDD)previously validated for amorphous three-dimensional\n(3D)-printed PLA, has been optimized for transforming the wettability\nof commercially available PLA material. Herein, we utilized a short\npreheat treatment in ethylene glycol to reduce the surface crystallinity\n(confirmed via X-ray diffraction analysis) to enable microstructure\nformation using acetone/water as a solvent/coagulant sequence. The\nchange in wettability from hydrophilic to superhydrophobic has been\nattributed to an increase in surface roughness, with the change in\nsurface topography confirmed using scanning electron microscopy.