Articles tagged with Wetting
Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research have identified the electrical charge of droplets as a new factor contributing to surface corrosion. Charged droplets can puncture coatings like Teflon, causing damage and reducing durability.
Researchers at NIMS have discovered a phenomenon where droplets on a single solid surface exhibit both 'sticky' and 'repellent' states simultaneously. By controlling the number of hydrogen bonds between the solid surface and oil, they can create a universal surface design principle that causes this phenomenon.
Researchers from the Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo, used molecular-scale simulations to understand ice formation. They found that the arrangement of water molecules in the two layers closest to the surface is crucial for nucleation, promoting a low-dimensional hexagonal crystal lattice at the surface.
Researchers have developed a new understanding of electrolyte wetting in advanced lithium-ion batteries, addressing a critical bottleneck in manufacturing. The study's findings reveal that manufacturing processes impact wetting behavior through key parameters like permeability and capillary forces.
Scientists have found that biomolecular condensates can cross membranes without specialized cutting proteins, a process called wetting, which is essential for plant survival. The study shows that these liquid droplets can exert large capillary forces on membranes, cutting them in two and enabling material exchange between cell parts.
Researchers create bioinspired directional structures to inhibit the wetting of molten droplets on super-melt-philic surfaces at high temperatures. The structures provide anisotropic energy barriers, hindering the movement of water and preventing wetting.
Researchers from Aalto University have identified the previously unidentified physics at play when water droplets move on superhydrophobic surfaces. By adapting a novel force measurement technique, they eliminated the drag-like force and proposed a solution to improve the performance of hydrophobic surfaces.
A German-Chinese research team has created a more precise understanding of the behavior of tiny droplets and vapor bubbles using computer simulation. The findings have the potential to improve cooling systems for microprocessors and enhance the efficiency of green hydrogen production, as well as aid in the development of new materials.
CSU researchers created the first successful soft robotic gripper capable of manipulating individual droplets of liquid, enabling precise and lossless liquid cleanup work. The innovative device is lightweight, inexpensive, and can be used for hazardous liquid cleanup scenarios.
Scientists developed a software platform to analyze surfaces, creating digital twins that predict material properties like adhesion and durability. The contact.engineering platform standardizes procedure and facilitates open science, allowing users to share measurements and collaborate.
Scientists develop a new model to predict when a droplet will splash upon hitting a solid surface, considering factors like wettability and roughness. The study could enable advances in agriculture, epidemiology, and printing technology.
Researchers successfully measured the wettability of graphene and other 2D materials using VSFG, a surface-selective tool that connects macroscopic and molecular-level properties. The study found that graphene's 'wetting transparency' diminishes with increasing layers, becoming hydrophobic at a certain point.
Researcher Sepideh Razavi's work focuses on droplet wetting behavior, crucial for understanding disease transmission, industrial processes, and environmental sustainability. Her project aims to advance fundamental science for novel solutions in these fields.
Researchers at MIT have developed a method to control the interaction between liquids and solids, allowing for the creation of surfaces with high or low wettability. This breakthrough has potential applications in various industries, including thermal management, protective coatings, and heat pipes.
Researchers at TU Wien have successfully described the 'teapot effect' with a theoretical analysis and experiments. The effect occurs when a liquid is poured out of a teapot too slowly, causing it to dribble down the outside of the pot due to an interplay of inertia, viscous, and capillary forces.
Researchers identify commercialized Membrane Distillation as a green solution for clean, drinkable water. The technique overcomes Reverse Osmosis limitations and provides safe drinking water while managing brines, keeping the environment safe.
Researchers developed a stable performance electrospun nanofiber membrane to turn seawater into drinking water without wetting issues. The membrane can operate for 30 days with high salt rejection rates, making it suitable for long-term membrane distillation applications.
A team of researchers discovered the method ducks use to suspend water in their feathers while diving, allowing them to shake it out when surfacing. They found that by using multiple layers of feathers, ducks can create air pockets that prevent irreversible wetting, enabling them to shake off excess water.
Researchers at Imperial College London have developed a new fire suppressant that can kill zombie fires 40% faster than using water alone. The agent reduces surface tension and acts thermally to encapsulate the fire, bringing down temperature and removing heat from the fire triangle.
Researchers found that making masks and PPE with hydrophilic surfaces can reduce the drying time of droplets, cutting COVID-19 infection risk in half. A superhydrophobic surface requires more extreme modification to achieve optimal results.
A team of researchers proposed a new theoretical model to describe the balance of capillary forces at the contact line. The model, validated through molecular dynamic simulations, provides new insights into the mechanisms of wetting and capillarity.
Graphite has been found to be intrinsically lithiophilic at 500K, contradicting previous conclusions that it was lithiophobic. The study uses ab initio molecular dynamics simulation and shows that surface chemistry plays a key role in the wetting performance of Li metal on graphite.
Scientists at the University of Portsmouth have identified chemicals in urine specific to overactive bladder, which could lead to a diagnostic gadget similar to a pregnancy test. The device is expected to be simple, accurate, and cost-effective, saving millions from painful procedures and long waits for diagnosis.
New research shows that the slipperiness between droplets and solid surfaces is more critical for clearing condensation than previously thought. The findings could lead to cost-effective alternatives to water-repellent materials, such as ceramic or metal surfaces, which could last longer and be more durable.
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have discovered that carbon nanotubes can both repel and hold water in place, creating a parahydrophobic surface. This unique property allows for stable water droplets to cling to the CNT forest, enabling applications such as printing, spectroscopy, and harvesting surfaces.
The research focuses on improving oil recovery efficiency through innovative integrated methods and polymer solutions. Laboratory experiments demonstrate the significant influence of mineral skeleton properties on polymer viscosity, highlighting the importance of optimal concentration selection.
Quantum dots have been successfully modified to produce interference-free photons, paving the way for quantum communication. Researchers eliminated interferences by adding an aluminium arsenide layer grown above the quantum dots in the wetting layer.
Researchers found that dynamic contact angle is crucial in predicting splashing behavior, contradicting previous static droplet angle method. The study enables creation of splash-free coatings by pre-treating surfaces to increase wettability.
A research team studied liquid penetration on rough surfaces, providing key findings for everyday products like cosmetics and industrial applications. The study identifies five variables controlling cavity-filling rates, required for liquids to penetrate cavities in surfaces.
Researchers from KAUST developed nature-inspired surfaces that decrease frictional drag at the liquid-pipe interface without chemical coatings. The microtextured surfaces, mimicking springtail skins, sustain trapped air for extended periods, reducing surface drag and enhancing oil- and water-repellent properties.
A group of researchers from Aalto University and Sun Yat-sen University present a rigorous methodology for measuring wetting, proposing a universal procedure for the research community. This approach allows comparison between research groups to promote the development of new wetting materials.
Researchers developed a new theoretical model to explain the friction of liquid droplets on micro-structured surfaces. The study found that micro-hole surfaces exhibit higher friction than micro-pillar surfaces under the same solid fraction.
Aalto University researchers developed Scanning Droplet Adhesion Microscopy (SDAM) to understand and characterize the wetting properties of superhydrophobic materials. The microscope is 1,000 times more precise than current techniques, enabling the creation of wetting maps that reveal microscopic defects on surfaces.
Researchers at KAUST have developed a method to create omniphobic surfaces, repelling liquids, using doubly reentrant microcavities. This technique has the potential to reduce hydrodynamic drag and antifouling in industries such as oil-water separation and membrane distillation.
Researchers at the University of British Columbia developed a smart surface that can repel and absorb liquids, controlled by applying electric potential. The copper-based surface exhibits rapid and reversible changes in wetting behavior, making it suitable for various industrial and consumer applications.
Researchers at Kumamoto University have derived a new theoretical formula to predict the wetting and spreading behavior of droplets on flat surfaces. The formula allows for quantification of the maximum wetted area of droplets after collision, influencing equipment quality and efficiency.
Researchers have created a surface with switchable wetting and adhesion using a single layer of boron nitride. The surface can be made water-repellent or wettable by applying an electrical voltage, opening up potential applications in daily life and space travel.
Scientists develop new surface architecture combining lotus leaves' unique features to enhance liquid mobility on rough surfaces. The Wenzel state is shown to be highly mobile for the first time experimentally.
Scientists at MIT discovered that non-wetting surfaces promote chemical reaction rates, while hydrophilic surfaces inhibit them. This finding enables researchers to predict a material's suitability as a catalyst based on its wettability.
Children who start toilet training before age 2 have a three times higher risk of developing daytime wetting problems later, according to new research. Early trainers are more prone to subsequent voiding dysfunction due to holding stool or urine, reducing bladder capacity and causing nerve damage.
A research team from Berkeley Lab has reported a unique molecular-level analysis of a BSC cyanobacterium responding to wetting and drying of its environment. They found that within three minutes after wetting began, metabolic processes in dormant microbial cells came alive.
Recent research at MIT shows that adding a layer of graphene to a surface has little effect on its interaction with liquids, except for extreme cases. The team's findings demonstrate the ability to manipulate wettability while preserving electrical conductivity and optical properties.
Researchers propose a continuum-based model that illustrates contact line pinning at phase interfaces between materials, differing from traditional Wenzel and Cassie models. The study shows the macroscopic contact angle depends solely on the triple contact line's properties.
Researchers at MIT have discovered a new process relating to the way drops of water spread after striking a surface, which could help engineers design more durable condensing surfaces. The effect explains why blades used in power-plant turbines tend to degrade rapidly and need frequent replacement.
Physicists have made significant breakthrough in understanding wetting theory with the development of a new simplified mathematical formula. The formula explains fluctuations in liquid droplets on surfaces, resolving long-standing problems and outstanding discrepancies between experiments and simulations.
A study of over 16,500 children aged 5-19 found that 1 in 50 teenagers still experience bedwetting. The researchers found that children with severe bedwetting problems are more likely to continue experiencing problems into adulthood. Mild bedwetting is more common among younger children, but severe problems increase with age.
The American Society of Agronomy has published a new CD, 'Soil Wetting Agents', providing practical information on the technology behind soil wetting agents to improve water absorption on golf courses. The resource addresses a gap in turf management education and is available for purchase online.
A double-blind, randomized trial found that first-line treatment with DETROL(R) LA significantly reduced urge incontinence episodes and improved bladder condition in women with mixed incontinence. The study also showed a higher proportion of patients treated with DETROL(R) LA reported treatment benefits.
Scientists at Max Planck Institute discover new wetting phenomena on micrometer-scale surfaces with hydrophilic and hydrophobic domains. The discovery leads to the formation of 2D wettability patterns that act as templates for 3D liquid morphology, enabling the creation of microbridges for fluid microchips and reactors.