Three-Dimensionally Printed Microstructured Hydrophobic Surfaces: Morphology and Wettability.

ABSTRACT: This work presents the design and fabrication of microstructured hydrophobic surfaces via fused filament fabrication (FFF) 3D printing with polylactic acid (PLA). Three geometric patterns-triangular-based prisms (TG), truncated pyramids (TP), and truncated ellipsoidal cones (CET)-were developed to modify the surface wettability. Morphological analysis revealed that the printer resolution limits the accurate reproduction of sharp CAD-defined features. Despite this, TG structures exhibited superhydrophobic behavior evaluated through static water contact angles (WCAs), reaching up to 164° along the structured direction and so representing a 100% increase relative to flat PLA surfaces (WCA = 82°). To improve print fidelity, TP and CET geometries with enlarged features were introduced, resultin

SUBMITTER: Tammaro L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12526174 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature