Interactions of polyvinyl acetate dispersions with nanostructured superhydrophilic and superhydrophobic Ti6Al4V alloy surfaces

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>Nanostructured bilayer thin films with superhydrophobic and superhydrophilic surfaces were prepared using Ti6Al4V alloy substrates which allowed for the comparative analysis of polyvinyl acetate (PVAc) particle adsorption as a function of the interface structure. The PVAc particles were obtained from emulsion polymerization of vinyl acetate. A superhydrophilic TiO<jats:sub>2</jats:sub> nanofiber-based 3D network was created on the Ti6Al4V alloy substrate by application of a hydrothermal method. Subsequent UV-grafting of ultra-thin polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) layers resulted in a superhydrophobic surface. The modification steps were followed via Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Fourier Transform Spectroscopy, X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy, Field Emission-Scanning Electron Microscopy, contact angle and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy. A mechanism for the adsorption of PVAc at the two electrolyte/substrate interfaces could be revealed.</jats:p>