On the surface performance of superhydrophobic silicone rubber specimens fabricated by direct replica method

Author

Zylka, Pawel

Author_Institution

Inst. of Electr. Eng. Fundamentals, Wroclaw Univ. of Technol., Wroclaw, Poland

Volume

21

Issue

3

fYear

2014

fDate

Jun-14

Firstpage

1183

Lastpage

1188

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;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1070-9878

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/TDEI.2014.6832264

Filename

6832264