Hydrophobic over-recovery during aging of polyethylene modified by oxygen capacitively coupled radio frequency plasma: A new approach for stable superhydrophobic surface with high water adhesion

► Passive aging process of LDPE surface by plasma nanotexturing was utilized. ► Superhydrophilic surface undergo hydrophobic over-recovery into superhydrophobicity. ► Post-aged surface achieves superhydrophobicity with high water adhesion. ► Heterogeneous chemical compositions on nanofibrils array provide high adhesion. ► Time-dependent contact angle model describes nanotextured surface restructuring.