Effect of Microstructures on Superhydrophobic and Slippery Lubricant-Infused Porous Surfaces During Condensation Phase-Change

Superhydrophobic surfaces (SHSs) and slippery lubricant-infused porous surfaces (SLIPSs) are receiving increasing attention for their excellent anti-icing, anti-fogging, self-cleaning and condensation heat transfer properties. The ability of such surfaces to passively shed and repel water is mainly due to the low-adhesion between the liquid and the solid surface, i.e., low contact angle hysteresis, when compared to hydrophilic or to hydrophobic surfaces. In this work we investigated the effect of surface structure on the condensation performance on SHSs and SLIPSs. Three different SHSs with structures varying from the micro- to the nano-scale were fabricated following easy and scalable etching and oxidation growth procedures. The condensation performance on such surfaces was evaluated by optical microscopy in a temperature and humidity controlled environmental chamber. On SHSs important differences on the size and on the number of the coalescing droplets required for the jump to ensue were found when varying the surface structure underneath the condensing droplets. A surface energy analysis is proposed to account for the suppression of the droplet-jumping performance in the presence of microstructures. On other hand, by impregnating the same SHSs with a low surface tension oil, i.e., SLIPSs, the adhesion between the condensate and the SLIPSs can be further reduced. On SLIPSs slight differences on the droplet density over time and shedding performance upon the inclusion of microstructures were observed. Droplets were found to shed faster and with smaller diameters on SLIPSs in the presence of microstructures when compared to solely nanostructured SLIPSs. We conclude that on SHSs the droplet-jumping performance of micrometer droplets is deteriorated in the presence of microstructures with the consequent decrease in the heat transfer performance, whereas on SLIPSs the droplet self-removal is actually improved in the presence of microstructures.

Drop mobility on superhydrophobic microstructured surfaces with wettability contrasts

Influence of wettability contrasts and contact angle hysteresis on drop velocity and surface energy analysis describing the drop motion.

Effect of nonthermal plasma treatment on the surface of dental resins immersed in artificial saliva

This study aimed (1) to use scanning electron microscopy associated with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) to characterize the surface of dental resins after nonthermal plasma (NTP) treatment and (2) to use surface energy analysis to evaluate whether NTP treatment protects the microhardness of the resins against the degradative effects of saliva. Twenty-eight acrylic and composite resin discs were fabricated and divided into four groups. Two groups received no surface treatment [control acrylic resin (Co/AR) and control composite resin (Co/CR] and two groups [NTP-treated acrylic resin (NTP/AR) and NTP-treated composite resin (NTP/CR)] were treated with NTP. One disc from each group was analyzed using SEM-EDS. Ten discs were subjected to surface energy analysis (before and after NTP) and microhardness assessments (at various time points). p<0.05 was used to determine statistical significance. Surface energy decreased after NTP treatment. Microhardness was reduced after 30 days in the Co/AR group and between 15 and 30 days in the NTP/AR group. Microhardness decreased in the Co/CR group after 15 and 30 days, whereas there was no difference after 30 days in the NTP/CR group. SEM images showed the presence of cracks and holes after 30 days in both Co/AR and NTP/AR groups. Cracks and silicon particles were observed after 30 days in the Co/CR group. Both the acrylic and composite resins exhibited hydrophobic properties after NTP treatment. The reduction in microhardness of the acrylic resin after NTP treatment was lower than that of the composite resin.