1. Testing the performance of superhydrophobic aluminum surfaces
- Author
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José Martínez-Aroza, F. Javier Montes Ruiz-Cabello, J. Francisco Gómez-Lopera, Miguel A. Rodríguez-Valverde, M. A. Cabrerizo-Vílchez, and Pablo F. Ibáñez-Ibáñez
- Subjects
Materials science ,Drop (liquid) ,chemistry.chemical_element ,Nanotechnology ,02 engineering and technology ,Surface finish ,010402 general chemistry ,021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology ,01 natural sciences ,0104 chemical sciences ,Surfaces, Coatings and Films ,Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials ,Biomaterials ,Contact angle ,Colloid and Surface Chemistry ,chemistry ,Water repellent ,Homogeneous ,Aluminium ,Homogeneity (physics) ,Wetting ,Composite material ,0210 nano-technology - Abstract
The analysis of wetting properties of superhydrophobic surfaces may be a difficult task due to the restless behavior of drops on this type of surfaces and the limitations of goniometry for high contact angles. A method to validate the performance of superhydrophobic surfaces, rather than standard goniometry, is required. In this work, we used bouncing drop dynamics as a useful tool to predict the water repellency of different superhydrophobic surfaces. From bouncing drop experiments conducted over a wide range of superhydrophobic surfaces, we found that those surfaces with a proper roughness degree and homogeneous chemical composition showed higher water-repellency. We also conducted a drop condensation study at saturating conditions aimed to determine whether there is direct correlation between water repellency and condensation delay. We found that the drop condensation process is strongly related to the surface topography, as well as the intrinsic wettability. The condensation is promoted on rough surfaces but it is delayed on intrinsically hydrophobic surfaces. However, the differences found in condensation delay between the superhydrophobic surfaces explored in this study cannot be justified by their chemical homogeneity nor their efficiency as water repellent surfaces, separately.
- Published
- 2017