biostudies-literatureOh JHMinistry of Science, ICT and Future PlanningNational Research Foundation of KoreaKorea Coast Guard10939-10948https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9050346biostudies-literatureUnknown10(18)This study explored the optimum conditions to achieve superhydrophobicity in polyethylene terephthalate (PET) in terms of crystallinity and microstructure. Surface superhydrophobicity was achieved by nanostructures induced by oxygen plasma etching and the recovery process of low surface energy through thermal aging of various PETs; semi-crystalline biaxial PET (B-PET) film, amorphous PET (A-PET) film, and semi-crystalline PET (F-PET) fabric. Under the anisotropic plasma etching, the nanostructures on the B-PET film were the longest, followed by the F-PET fabric, which developed a hierarchical micro/nanostructure, then the A-PET film. During thermal aging at 80 °C near <i>T</i> _g, the plasma-treated A-PET film recovered its superhydrophobicity within 3 h, while the plasma-treatedRSC advancesEffect of crystallinity on the recovery rate of superhydrophobicity in plasma-nanostructured polymers.PMC9050346KCG-01-2017-022016M3A7B49109402018R1A2B6003526Moon MWPark CHOh JHfalseEffect of crystallinity on the recovery rate of superhydrophobicity in plasma-nanostructured polymers.This study explored the optimum conditions to achieve superhydrophobicity in polyethylene terephthalate (PET) in terms of crystallinity and microstructure. Surface superhydrophobicity was achieved by nanostructures induced by oxygen plasma etching and the recovery process of low surface energy through thermal aging of various PETs; semi-crystalline biaxial PET (B-PET) film, amorphous PET (A-PET) film, and semi-crystalline PET (F-PET) fabric. Under the anisotropic plasma etching, the nanostructures on the B-PET film were the longest, followed by the F-PET fabric, which developed a hierarchical micro/nanostructure, then the A-PET film. During thermal aging at 80 °C near <i>T</i> _g, the plasma-treated A-PET film recovered its superhydrophobicity within 3 h, while the plasma-treated2020-01-01T00:00:00Z2020 Mar2025-04-05T11:08:19.329Z2025-04-05T11:08:19.329ZS-EPMC90503463549291410.1039/d0ra00098a