Fabrication of a superhydrophobic polypropylene membrane by deposition of a porous crystalline polypropylene coating

A porous polypropylene membrane was treated to deposit a thin superhydrophobic coating. Treatment conditions were optimised to maximise the contact angle. A high average static contact angle of 169° was achieved through the creation of a porous and rough surface which is 42° higher than that of an untreated polypropylene membrane and 30° higher than that of a Teflon® membrane. This treatment promises to provide low cost, porous, hydrophobic membranes for use in membrane contacting processes.