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Lifetime test and analysis of superhydrophobicity when lotus leaves are underwater

2015; Science China Press; Volume: 61; Issue: 7 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1360/n972015-00237

2095-9419

ShaoHang HOU, Anqiang Wang, Jianye Huang, FengHui WANG,

Plant Water Relations and Carbon Dynamics

Underwater superhydrophobic phenomenon has important applications in metal corrosion protection, drag reduction and prevention of underwater dirt and so on.The lifetime of underwater superhydrophobicity is the important factor that restricts the application of superhydrophobic materials under water.And in this paper it is tested through the continuous recording reflected light intensity variation of superhydrophobic interface when lotus leaves are in different water depths.The change progress of underwater wetting state with time can be divided into three stages: Non-wetting stage, partial wetting stage and total wetting stage.The duration of non-wetting stage is the lifetime of underwater superhydrophobicity.And it decreases exponentially with the water depth increased.When the water depth is higher than the ultimate depth that the capillary force can resist, the lifetime is further shortened.The vapor-liquid interface stability relys on suspension force produced by the capillary force and the air pressure.Superhydrophobic materials can be applied in deeper waters by improving the ultimate depth that the capillary force can resist.