Title :
On the surface performance of superhydrophobic silicone rubber specimens fabricated by direct replica method
Author_Institution :
Inst. of Electr. Eng. Fundamentals, Wroclaw Univ. of Technol., Wroclaw, Poland
Abstract :
Biomimetic surface imitating microstructure of a lotus leaf cuticle was reproduced synthetically in industrial-grade silicone rubber specimens by means of direct replica method using random templates. The specimens displayed roughness-induced increase of water contact angle and were characterized by static contact angle at 150° superhydrophobic limit. Biomimetic silicone rubber specimens were also tested for prolonged exposure to air corona discharges. Resultant loss of superhydrophobicity was accredited to elimination of microstructural features necessary for roughnessinduced hydrophobicity boost due to physical etching of rough surface by coronagenerated charged ion bombardment.
Keywords :
composite insulators; contact angle; corona; etching; insulation testing; rough surfaces; silicone rubber insulators; air corona discharges; biomimetic silicone rubber specimens; direct replica method; ion bombardment; lotus leaf cuticle; physical etching; random templates; rough surface; superhydrophobic silicone rubber; surface performance; water contact angle; Corona; Rough surfaces; Rubber; Surface contamination; Surface roughness; Surface topography; Surface treatment; Silicone rubber; composite insulation; etching; rough surfaces;
Journal_Title :
Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation, IEEE Transactions on
DOI :
10.1109/TDEI.2014.6832264
