Making a hydrophobic surface for an object

Abstract

Various examples provide a method of making a hydrophobic surface for an object. According to the method, a hydrophobic coating may be applied to an original surface of the object. A microstructure may be formed on the original surface of the object. The hydrophobic surface of the object may be obtained with the microstructure submerged by the hydrophobic coating. The microstructure may be a rough structure including micro-sized portions, and may have greater hardness than the hydrophobic coating.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An object, comprising:
 a substrate,   a hydrophobic coating on the substrate; and   a microstructure, embedded in the hydrophobic coating, and has greater hardness than the hydrophobic coating; wherein the microstructure has a rough structure which includes micro-sized portions.   
     
     
         2 . The object according to  claim 1 , wherein the microstructure is formed on the substrate to adhere to the substrate. 
     
     
         3 . The object according to  claim 1 , wherein a material of the hydrophobic coating is fed in between the micro-sized portions to eliminate the rough structure of the microstructure and form a smooth surface for the object. 
     
     
         4 . The object according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second coating between the substrate and the hydrophobic coating;   wherein the microstructure is formed on the second coating.   
     
     
         5 . The object according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the hydrophobic coating is made of a material selected from a group comprising: hydrophobic elastomers, hydrophobic polymers, polyurethane, fluorochemical materials, and organosilances; and   the microstructure is made of a material selected from a group comprising: metal, plastics, ceramics, carbon fiber, glass, wood, and a hybrid composite.   
     
     
         6 . The object according to  claim 1 , wherein the microstructure is selected from a group comprising: micro-sized concave portions, micro-sized convex portions, micro-sized pillars, micro-sized pyramids, micro-sized cones, micro-sized raised points, micro-sized raised stripes, micro-sized raised ripples, and micro-sized raised grids. 
     
     
         7 . The object according to  claim 1 , wherein the micro-sized portions are 5 to 150 micrometers in height or in depth, and have spacing of 5-100 micrometers between one another. 
     
     
         8 . An electronic device, comprising:
 electrical circuits, and   a housing of the electrical circuits, comprising a substrate, a microstructure formed on an outer surface of the substrate, and a hydrophobic coating;   wherein the microstructure comprises micro-sized portions with a rough structure spreading over the outer surface of the substrate, and   the hydrophobic coating is applied to the outer surface of the substrate to submerge the microstructure, and has smaller hardness than the microstructure.   
     
     
         9 . The electronic device according to  claim 8 , wherein a material of the hydrophobic coating is fed in between the micro-sized portions to form a smooth surface for the housing.