P-1-13 Study on Water strider robots using super-water-repellent surfaces : Relationship between surface microstructures and water-repellency

Author(s):  
Yuya MARUYAMA ◽  
Kenji SUZUKI ◽  
Hideaki TAKANOBU ◽  
Hirofumi MIURA
Author(s):  
David Quéré ◽  
Mathilde Reyssat

Superhydrophobic materials recently attracted a lot of attention, owing to the potential practical applications of such surfaces—they literally repel water, which hardly sticks to them, bounces off after an impact and slips on them. In this short review, we describe how water repellency arises from the presence of hydrophobic microstructures at the solid surface. A drop deposited on such a substrate can float above the textures, mimicking at room temperature what happens on very hot plates; then, a vapour layer comes between the solid and the volatile liquid, as described long ago by Leidenfrost. We present several examples of superhydrophobic materials (either natural or synthetic), and stress more particularly the stability of the air cushion—the liquid could also penetrate the textures, inducing a very different wetting state, much more sticky, due to the possibility of pinning on the numerous defects. This description allows us to discuss (in quite a preliminary way) the optimal design to be given to a solid surface to make it robustly water repellent.


2012 ◽  
Vol 549 ◽  
pp. 733-736
Author(s):  
Xiao Mian Chen ◽  
Jing Jing Shi ◽  
Hong Sha Su ◽  
Chun Ting Lin ◽  
En Long Yang

The catalytic properties of nano-TiO2 modified fabric suits the demand for self-cleaning in recent years. In this paper, advanced and innovative technology were used to synthesize water sol of titanium dioxide photocatalyst with high catalytic activity for fabric finishing. The wear behavior, antibacterial property and water repellency of treated and untreated fabric were tested. Results indicate that finishing and washing of the titanium dioxide had no effect on wear behavior; finished and washed fabric has a certain antibacterial and water repellent properties.


2008 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 267 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. RASA ◽  
R. HORN ◽  
M. RÄTY

Water repellency (WR) delays soil wetting process, increases preferential flow and may give rise to surface runoff and consequent erosion. WR is commonly recognized in the soils of warm and temperate climates. To explore the occurrence of WR in soils in Finland, soil R index was studied on 12 sites of different soil types. The effects of soil management practice, vegetation age, soil moisture and drying temperature on WR were studied by a mini-infiltrometer with samples from depths of 0-5 and 5-10 cm. All studied sites exhibited WR (R index >1.95) at the time of sampling. WR increased as follows: sand (R = 1.8-5.0) < clay (R = 2.4-10.3) < organic (R = 7.9-undefined). At clay and sand, WR was generally higher at the soil surface and at the older sites (14 yr.), where organic matter is accumulated. Below 41 vol. % water content these mineral soils were water repellent whereas organic soil exhibited WR even at saturation. These results show that soil WR also reduces water infiltration at the prevalent field moisture regime in the soils of boreal climate. The ageing of vegetation increases WR and on the other hand, cultivation reduces or hinders the development of WR.;


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emilia Urbanek ◽  
Stefan H. Doerr

Abstract. Soil CO2 emissions are strongly dependent on water distribution in soil pores, which in turn can be affected by soil water repellency (SWR; hydrophobicity). SWR restricts infiltration and movement of water, affecting soil hydrology as well as biological and chemical processes. Effects of SWR on soil carbon dynamics and specifically on soil respiration (CO2 efflux) have been studied in a few laboratory experiments but they remain poorly understood. Existing studies suggest that soil respiration is reduced in water repellent soils, but the responses of soil CO2 efflux to varying water distribution created by SWR are not yet known. Here we report on the first field-based study that tests whether soil water repellency indeed reduces soil respiration, based on in situ field measurements carried out over three consecutive years at a grassland and pine forest site under the humid temperate climate of the UK. CO2 efflux was reduced on occasions when soil exhibited consistently high SWR and low soil moisture following long dry spells. However, the highest respiration rates occurred not when SWR was absent, but when SWR, and thus soil moisture, was spatially patchy, a pattern observed for the majority of the measurement period. This somewhat surprising phenomenon can be explained by SWR-induced preferential flow, directing water and nutrients to microorganisms decomposing organic matter concentrated in hot spots near preferential flow paths. Water repellent zones provide air-filled pathways through the soil, which facilitate soil-atmosphere O2 and CO2 exchanges. This study demonstrates that SWR have contrasting effects on CO2 fluxes and, when spatially-variable, can enhance CO2 efflux. Spatial variability in SWR and associated soil moisture distribution needs to be considered when evaluating the effects of SWR on soil carbon dynamics under current and predicted future climatic conditions.


2019 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yaşar Erayman Yüksel ◽  
Yasemin Korkmaz

Purpose Durability of textile materials under wet conditions has become very important in recent years. The water repellency performance of fabrics should be maintained in the seam areas. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the effect of water repellent agents and sewing threads on the seam and water repellency performance properties of woven fabrics. Design/methodology/approach 100 percent polyester woven fabrics were treated with three different water repellent finishing agents (silicone, fluorocarbons with 6 and 8 carbons) and then sewn with different sewing threads (unfinished/water repellent finished polyester/cotton corespun and polyamide filament). Afterwards, mechanical properties, seam performance and water repellency properties of these materials were measured. Findings The effect of finishing which was statistically significant on seam strength only in warp direction was significant on seam elongation and efficiency in both warp and weft directions. Seam strength, seam efficiency, seam slippage and seam pucker of fabrics sewn with polyamide threads were higher than others. The fluorocarbons applied to the fabrics gave higher water repellency values than silicones. In addition, as the chain length increased in fluorocarbons, water repellency performance increased. Sewing process reduced water resistance of fabrics; however, water repellent finish applied to the threads increased water resistance of fabrics. Originality/value As a result of the literature review, it was seen that water repellency property of a wear were studied in only seamless areas of fabrics. Originality of this study is that the water repellency properties are also analyzed in the seam areas of the fabrics and evaluated together with the seam performance characteristics.


2012 ◽  
Vol 21 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 21-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ioannis Karapanagiotis ◽  
Panagiotis Manoudis

AbstractSuperhydrophobicity – also known as water repellency – has recently attracted considerable attention because of its numerous potential applications. However, the fundamental concepts and equations describing the wettability of superhydrophobic surfaces have been known since the 1940s. These concepts are reviewed and discussed in the present feature article in light of the recent developments. Furthermore, the potential use of water-repellent siloxane-nanoparticle composites for surface protection and consolidation of stones and mortars used in outdoor objects of cultural heritage is investigated. Finally, it is shown that the wettability of the composite surfaces can be predicted by the Cassie-Baxter equation.


Coatings ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 293 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paz-Gómez ◽  
Caño-Ochoa ◽  
Rodríguez-Alabanda ◽  
Romero ◽  
Cabrerizo-Vílchez ◽  
...  

Fluoropolymer-based coatings are widely used for release applications. However, these hydrophobic surfaces do not reveal a significantly low adhesion. Water repellency incorporated to fluoropolymer coatings might enhance their release performance. In this work, we focused on the surface texturing of a well-known polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)-based coating. We explored as texturing routes: sanding, sandblasting and laser ablation. We examined the surface roughness with white light confocal microscopy and the surface morphology with environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM). Water-repellent fluoropolymer coatings were reproduced in all cases, although with different degree, parametrized with bounces of water drops (4–5 μL). Laser ablation enabled the lowest adhesion of coatings with 24 ± 2 bounces. This result and the current development of laser patterning for industry assure the incipient use of laser ablation for release coatings.


2019 ◽  
Vol 90 (9-10) ◽  
pp. 991-1001 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zeynep Omerogullari Basyigit ◽  
Dilek Kut ◽  
Peter Hauser

Nowadays, the methods and techniques used in the textile industry are required to be environmentally friendly, and water and energy saving. In addition to these, they should transfer more than one functionality, in other words give multifunctionality to the textile material with reliable and sufficient results in terms of efficiency and permanence. With the increase in and diversification of today's industrial requirements, one functionality on the fabric may be insufficient to meet the requirements, and therefore the subject of multifunctionality holds an important place in the textile industry. Therefore, in this study flame retardant, antibacterial and water-repellent, single-layered multifunctional 100% cotton fabrics with different functionalities on different sides (back and face surfaces) of the fabric were obtained via a chemical foam application method, which has many advantages compared with conventional methods. In some of the experimental parts, impregnation and foam application methods were combined in the process in order to optimize the multifunctionality properties of the fabrics. In order to indicate the performance test of cotton fabric, vertical burning test, contact angle test, antibacterial test against Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria, color spectrum analysis and tearing strength test were carried out while, in terms of characterization tests, Fourier transform infrared (attenuated total reflectance) and scanning electron microscope analyses were performed. According to the test results, the flame retardancy effect of the samples was improved significantly while antibacterial results showed a 99% reduction of bacteria and the finished fabrics demonstrated improved water repellency with contact angles up to 125°. In addition, the functionalities were durable up to 50 washing and 50 drying cycles.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felix Abayomi Ogunmokun ◽  
Rony Wallach

&lt;p&gt;Soil water repellency is a common feature of dry soils under permanent vegetation and drought conditions. Soil-water hydrology is markedly affected by soil-water repellency as it hinders infiltration, leading to enhanced surface runoff and soil erosion. Although this phenomenon was primarily ascribed to sandy soils, it has been observed in loam, clay, and peat soils in dry and humid regions. One detrimental effect of soil water repellency on plants is the reduction of soil water availability that stems from the non-uniform water retention and flow in preferential pathways (gravity-induced fingers) with relatively dry soil volume among these paths. It was recently discovered that prolonged irrigation with treated wastewater, a widely used alternative in Israel and other Mediterranean countries due to the limited freshwater, triggers soil water repellency which invariably resulted in preferential flow development in the field. Due to climate change events, the use of treated wastewater for irrigation as a means of freshwater conservation is expected to widen, including in countries that are not considered dry.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;While a vast amount of research has been devoted to characterizing the preferential flow in water repellent soils, the effect of this flow regime on the spatial distribution of salt and fertilizers in the root zone was barely investigated. Results from a commercial citrus orchard irrigated with treated wastewater that includes the spatial and temporal distribution of preferential flow in the soil profile measured by ERT will be demonstrated. The associated spatial distribution of salinity, nitrate, phosphate, and SAR in the soil profile will be shown as well.&amp;#160; We investigated the efficacy of two nonionic surfactants application to remediate hydrophobic sandy soils both in the laboratory and field. The effect of the surfactant application to the water repellent soils in the orchards on the spatial distribution of soil moisture and the associated agrochemicals will be presented and discussed.&lt;/p&gt;


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