Water droplet behavior on superhydrophobic SiO{sub 2} nanocomposite films during icing/deicing cycles

Journal Article · Thu Aug 15 00:00:00 EDT 2013 · Materials Characterization

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/J.MATCHAR.2013.04.017· OSTI ID:22285063

Lazauskas, A., E-mail: [e-mail] ^[1]; Guobienė, A., E-mail: [e-mail] ^[1]; Prosyčevas, I., E-mail: [e-mail] ^[1]; Baltrušaitis, V., E-mail: [e-mail] ^[1]; Grigaliūnas, V., E-mail: [e-mail] ^[1]; Narmontas, P., E-mail: [e-mail] ^[1]; Baltrusaitis, J., E-mail: [e-mail] ^[2]

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1. Institute of Materials Science, Kaunas University of Technology, Savanorių 271, 3009 Kaunas (Lithuania)
2. PhotoCatalytic Synthesis Group, University of Twente, Meander 229, P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede (Netherlands)

This work investigates water droplet behavior on superhydrophobic (water contact angle value of 162 ± 1°) SiO{sub 2} nanocomposite films subjected to repetitive icing/deicing treatments, changes in SiO{sub 2} nanocomposite film surface morphology and their non-wetting characteristics. During the experiment, water droplets on SiO{sub 2} nanocomposite film surface are subjected to a series of icing and deicing cycles in a humid (∼ 70% relative humidity) atmosphere and the resulting morphological changes are monitored and characterized using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and contact angle measurements. Our data show that the formation of the frozen or thawed water droplet, with no further shape change, on superhydrophobic SiO{sub 2} nanocomposite film, is obtained faster within each cycle as the number of the icing/deicing cycles increases. After 10 icing and deicing cycles, the superhydrophobic SiO{sub 2} nanocomposite film had a water contact angle value of 146 ± 2° which is effectively non-superhydrophobic. AFM analysis showed that the superhydrophobic SiO{sub 2} nanocomposite film surface area under the water droplet undergoes gradual mechanical damage during the repetitive icing/deicing cycles. We propose a possible mechanism of the morphological changes to the film surface that take place during the consecutive icing/deicing experiments. - Highlights: • Superhydrophobic film is subjected to repetitive icing/deicing treatments. • Water droplet shape transition is recorded and characterized thereafter. • Atomic force microscopy and contact angle measurements are performed. • The surface undergoes gradual mechanical damage during repetitive icing/deicing. • Mechanism for the observed surface morphological changes is suggested.

• OSTI ID: 22285063
• Journal Information: Materials Characterization, Vol. 82; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2013 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1044-5803
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
ATOMIC FORCE MICROSCOPY
DROPLETS
FILMS
HUMIDITY
ICE
SILICA
SILICON OXIDES
SURFACE AREA
SURFACES
WATER