Facile Preparation of a Stable Superhydrophobic Cotton Fabric with Anti-icing and Wear Resistance

Cotton fabrics are soft, comfortable, and hydrophilic. However, the fabric’s poor wear resistance and tendency to ice at low temperatures restrict its applications. Superhydrophobic cotton fabric has a unique hydrophobic surface, which can effectively delay the freezing of the fabric surface. Herein, superhydrophobic cotton fabric was prepared through the application of a suspension comprising silicon dioxide (SiO₂), cerium oxide (CeO₂) nanoparticles, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and γ-aminopropyl triethoxysilane (KH550). The combination of PTFE and KH550 could significantly improve its mechanical properties and stability. When the proportion of SiO₂ to CeO₂ was 2:3, the cotton fabric demonstrated exceptional superhydrophobicity and anti-icing performance. It is noteworthy that the cotton fabric retained excellent superhydrophobicity after undergoing 80 cycles of abrasion, 60 cycles of tape stripping, 1 h water of impact, 30 min of sand impact, prolonged immersion (pH 3–13), and 5 days at −30 °C/120 °C. Furthermore, the freezing time of the superhydrophobic cotton fabric was prolonged to 489 s, and adhesion strength of ice was reduced to 11.56 kPa at −10 °C. This study provides a straightforward method for preparing superhydrophobic cotton fabrics, which significantly enhances their practical applications.