DOI
https://doi.org/10.25772/R1ZM-9A92
Defense Date
2013
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering
First Advisor
Gary Tepper
Second Advisor
Karla Mossi
Third Advisor
Umit Ozgur
Abstract
Superhydrophobicity refers to surfaces with extremely large water droplet contact angles (usually greater than 150°). This phenomenon requires a hydrophobic material with micro or nano-scale roughness. Superhydrophobic surfaces exist in nature (e.g. the lotus leaf) and can be produced synthetically. This project focuses on the development and characterization of superhydrophobic materials with tunable wettability (i.e. smart superhydrophobic materials). In this study, surfaces were prepared by electrospinning thin, aligned polystyrene fibers onto a piezoelectric unimorph substrate. Results showed electric field induced changes in substrate curvature, which produced corresponding changes in surface wettability. From experiments, an average change in water contact angle of 7.2° ± 1.2° with 90% confidence was observed in ~2μm diameter fiber coatings electrospun for 5 minutes with applied electric field. In addition, fiber coatings electrospun with equivalent deposition showed average electric field induced changes in WCA of 2.5° ± 0.92° for lower diameter fibers (~1μm) and 3.5° ± 1.37° for higher diameter fibers (~2μm) with 90% confidence.
Rights
© The Author
Is Part Of
VCU University Archives
Is Part Of
VCU Theses and Dissertations
Date of Submission
October 2013