Effect of spacing distance on loading capacity and pressure resistance of miniature boat fabricated from superhydrophobic phenylenebenzobisoxazole (PBO) fiber bundles

An artificial superhydrophobic Poly-p-phenylenebenzobisoxazole (PBO) fiber bundles were designed and prepared using chemical surface modification. Water contact angles as high as 166.3° were achieved. The loading capacities and pressure resistances of these PBO fiber bundle boats were characterized. The highest loading weight of our superhydrophobic boats was more than 9.42 g, which was attributed to the air film trapped around the PBO boat surfaces. The depth of the water pressure resistance was about 656.4 mm.

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► A novel PBO fiber with superhydrophobic property was prepared.
► The boats cannot float on water surface but also exhibit large loading capacities.
► The boat can bear as deep as 656.4 mm water pressure.