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Superhydrophobicity

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Biomimetics in Materials Science

Part of the book series: Springer Series in Materials Science ((SSMATERIALS,volume 152))

Abstract

In the preceding chapter, we have discussed the capillary phenomena related to wetting. Superhydrophobicity or roughness-induced nonwetting is associated with the Lotus effect and currently serves as the main approach to design self-cleaning surfaces. In order to create a robust superhydrophobic surface, two factors are required. First, the surface should be at least slightly hydrophobic initially having water contact angle >90°. Second, surface roughness should be applied. Surface roughness plays the dominant role in the superhydrophobicity (in some cases, even an initially hydrophilic surface can become superhydrophobic if proper roughness is applied). It is desirable that the surface roughness is hierarchical or multiscale with submicron scale roughness details imposed on the microscale roughness. The adhesion of water to the solid is reduced significantly if a composite interface with air pockets sitting between the solid and liquid can form.

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  1. College of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, 53211-0413, WI, USA

    Michael Nosonovsky & Pradeep K. Rohatgi

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Nosonovsky, M., Rohatgi, P.K. (2011). Superhydrophobicity. In: Biomimetics in Materials Science. Springer Series in Materials Science, vol 152. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-0926-7_10

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