Effect of Oxyfluorination of PFA-Coated Metal Mesh with Superhydrophobic Properties on the Filtration Performance of SiO2 Microparticles

Recently, semiconductor wastewater treatment has received much attention due to the emergence of environmental issues. Acid-resistant coatings are essential for metal prefilters used in semiconductor wastewater treatment. Perfluoroalkoxy alkane is mainly used as an acid-resistant coating agent, since PFA has inherent superhydrophobicity, water permeability is lowered. To solve this problem, the surface of the PFA-coated metal mesh was treated via an oxyfluorination method in which an injected mixed gas of fluorine and oxygen reacted with the surface functional groups. Surface analysis, water contact angle measurement, and water permeability tests were performed on the surface-treated PFA-coated mesh. Consequently, the superhydrophobic surface was effectively converted to a hydrophobic surface as the PFA coating layer was surface-modified with C-O-OH functional groups via the oxyfluorination reaction. As a result of using simulation solutions that float silica particles of various sizes, the permeability and particle removal rate of the surface-modified PFA-coated stainless-steel mesh were improved compared to those before surface modification. Therefore, the oxyfluorination treatment used in this study was suitable for improving the filtration performance of SiO2 microparticles in the PFA-coated stainless-steel mesh.