Related papers: Enhancing condensation on soft substrates through …
Lubricant-infused surfaces (LISs) can promote stable dropwise condensation and improve heat transfer rates due to a low nucleation free-energy barrier and high droplet mobility. Topographical differences in the oil surface cause water…
The shapes of liquid polystyrene (PS) droplets on viscoelastic polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrates are investigated experimentally using atomic force microscopy for a range of droplet sizes and substrate elasticities. These shapes, which…
Modification of surfaces to enable dropwise condensation is a promising approach for achieving high condensation rates. In this work, we present an experimental study on condensation of water on copper surfaces coated with an ultrathin, 5…
We investigate the flow of spherical, bulk granular particles down an inclined plane mixed with small-sized spherical lubricant particles using discrete element method simulations. Predefined cohesive interaction is implemented between…
We have developed a poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) microfluidic chip to study the directional drying of a colloidal dispersion confined in a channel. Our measurements on a dispersion of silica nanoparticles once again revealed the…
Hypothesis: Surfactants are often added to aqueous solutions to induce spreading on otherwise unwettable hydrophobic surfaces. Alternatively, they can be introduced directly into solid hydrophobic materials-such as the soft elastomer,…
Understanding the dynamics of drops on polymer-coated surfaces is crucial for optimizing applications such as self-cleaning materials or microfluidic devices. While the static and dynamic properties of deposited drops have been well…
Silicone is frequently used as a model system to investigate and tune wetting on soft materials. Silicone is biocompatible and shows excellent thermal, chemical, and UV stability. Moreover, the mechanical properties of the surface can be…
This study investigates the impact of surface functionalization, oil coating, and oil absorption on droplet impact behavior on textured polydimethylsiloxane(PDMS) substrates. The textured surfaces were fabricated with square micro-posts…
Small scale contact between a soft, liquid-coated layer and a stiff surface is common in many situations, from synovial fluid on articular cartilage to adhesives in humid environments. Moreover, many model studies on soft adhesive contacts…
The polymer nanocomposites find applications in diverse areas ranging from smart materials to bioengineering. They are developed by dispersion of nanomaterials in a bulk phase of a polymeric material. Although several methods facilitate…
Flexible microfluidics have found extensive utility in the biological and biomedical fields. A leading substrate material for compliant devices is polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). Despite its many advantages, PDMS is inherently hydrophobic and…
Soft yet tough materials are ubiquitous in nature and everyday life. The ratio between fracture toughness and intrinsic fracture energy of a soft material defines its toughness enhancement. Soft materials' toughness enhancement has been…
Ice accumulation hinders the performance of, and poses safety threats for infrastructure both on the ground and in the air. Previously, rationally designed superhydrophobic surfaces have demonstrated some potential as a passive means to…
By applying a slow curing process, we show that biomolecules can be incorporated via a simple process as liquid stable phases inside a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) matrix. The process is carried out under mild conditions with regards to…
Elastomers swollen with non-polar fluids show potential as anti-adhesive materials. We study the effect of oil fraction and contact time on the adhesion between swollen spherical probes of PDMS (polydimethylsiloxane) and flat glass…
The present study theoretically predicts the effect of interfacial viscosity on the deformation of a compound drop as well as on the bulk rheology. The system at hand comprises of a dilute emulsion of concentric compound drops, laden with…
Emulsion droplets of silicone oil (PDMS) are widely used as antifoaming agents but, in the case of non-aqueous foams, the mechanisms responsible for the bursting of the films separating the bubbles remain unclear. We consider a ternary…
We present a comprehensive theoretical and computational model that explores the behavior of a thin hydrated film bonded to a non-hydrated / impermeable soft substrate in the context of surface and bulk elasticity coupled with surface…
Heat exchangers are made of metals because of their high heat conductivity and mechanical stability. Metal surfaces are inherently hydrophilic, leading to inefficient filmwise condensation. It is still a challenge to coat these metal…