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    Hydrophobicity of textured aluminum surfaces

    Author
    Pawlak, Alexander
    View/Open
    179129_Pawlak_rpi_0185N_11254.pdf (1.186Mb)
    Other Contributors
    Oehlschlaeger, Matthew A.; Anderson, Kurt S.; Oehlschlaeger, Matthew A.; Borca-Tasçiuc, Theodorian;
    Date Issued
    2018-05
    Subject
    Mechanical engineering
    Degree
    MS;
    Terms of Use
    This electronic version is a licensed copy owned by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY. Copyright of original work retained by author.;
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    URI
    https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.13015/2241
    Abstract
    Surfaces exhibiting hydrophobic characteristics are significant in both industrial and consumer applications. Considerable effort has gone into studying the hydrophobic properties of chemical coatings, nano and small machined structures, and naturally occurring surfaces. This study will test various simple textured aluminum surfaces that are easily reproducible and mechanically durable in order to determine the hydrophobicity of each surface. The relationships between contact angle and sliding angle, as well as surface roughness and contact angle hysteresis will also be examined. Six different surfaces were prepared, including a control surface, three surfaces of differing roughness, and two machined surfaces. The contact angle, sliding angle, and contact hystereses of the samples were analyzed, and the results were summarized and explained based on past research into drop-surface interaction. The highest contact angles measured were on the machined surfaces, with the control and abraded surfaces all exhibiting hydrophilic properties with the exception of one abraded surface. The data supports the notion that surface roughness does not strictly correlate with contact angle, as it is possible to roughen a surface in ways that increase contact angle.; The data also suggests that contact angle does not always correlate with sliding angle but surface roughness does correlate with sliding angle. The three roughest surfaces used in this experiment caused water drops to adhere to them so strongly that drops would not slide off of the surface, even when the surface was elevated to a completely vertical position. Lastly, drops placed on surfaces with large machined features (0.01”) were observed transitioning from the Cassie-Baxter state to the Wenzel state, suggesting that these features are too large or rough to allow the drops to remain in the Cassie-Baxter state for extended periods of time.;
    Description
    May 2018; School of Engineering
    Department
    Dept. of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Nuclear Engineering;
    Publisher
    Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY
    Relationships
    Rensselaer Theses and Dissertations Online Collection;
    Access
    Restricted to current Rensselaer faculty, staff and students. Access inquiries may be directed to the Rensselaer Libraries.;
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    • RPI Theses Online (Complete)

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