Surface characteristics of coated polyester fabric with reduced graphene oxide and polypyrrole

Graphical abstract: - Highlights: • PET in form of film or membrane is hydrophobic and its wetting behavior follows the Wenzel wetting theory. In the form of textile materials it shows hydrophilicity. • rGO coated PET fabric shows hydrophobicity and its wetting behavior places between Wenzel and Cassie–Baxter models. • PET coated fabric by PPy shows superhydrophobicity and its wetting behavior is consistence with Cassie–Baxter model. • Due to oxidation of the rGO during in situ synthesis of PPy the rGO–PPy coated PET shows hydrophilicity. - Abstract: In this study, the influence of coating polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fabric with reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and polypyrrole (PPy), individually or in combination (rGO–PPy), on surface chemistry and roughness (focusing on wetting behavior), were analyzed systematically. Characterization was carried out by observing the topography (atomic force microscopy – AFM) and stating surface analysis (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy – XPS), contact angles (goniometry), water shedding angles, and surface energy values of the samples. The results showed that the contact angles of pristine (uncoated), GO and rGO–PPy coated samples were 0°, while it was 92°, 123° and 151° for hot pressed (2nd pristine sample), rGO and PPy samples, respectively. A zero contact angle for PET sample was due to its wicking ability. Results were interpreted with Young, Wenzel and Cassie Baxter equations. It was found that PPy coated samples were consistent with Cassie–Baxter equation, while rGO placed between Wenzel and Cassie–Baxter wetting models.