Graduation Semester and Year

2014

Language

English

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering

Department

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

First Advisor

Cheng Luo

Abstract

In this work, different superhydrophobic structures were fabricated on the surfaces of polystyrene (PS) blocks, using oxygen reactive ion etch (ORIE) and controllable strain recovery. The PS used here is a thermal shape memory polymer (SMP). Microhills are first generated on the surface of a PS block by ORIE. The PS block is then heated up, which triggers the strain recovery. During this process of recovering its original shape, the PS block gradually reduces its lateral dimensions, while increasing its thickness. Using different recovery temperatures, the surface morphologies can be controlled, which provides an approach to adjust surface wetting properties, including adhesion. At a temperature of 148°C, microhills deformed to high-aspect-ratio nanowires. The corresponding PS surface has wetting properties similar to those of a lotus surface. The wetting is in Cassie-Baxter state, and a water drop is easy to get off from this surface. When the recovery temperature is increased to 162°C, microwrinkles appear on the PS surface due to the different stiffnesses between the oxygen-treated top layer and the underlying PS substrate. These microwrinkles, together with nanowires located on their tops, form hybrid micro/nanostructures on the PS surface. The corresponding surface has wetting properties similar to those of a rose petal. The wetting is in a mixed state of Wenzel and Cassie-Baxter. A water droplet is stuck on the surface, although its apparent contact angle is as high as 166°±2°.

Disciplines

Aerospace Engineering | Engineering | Mechanical Engineering

Comments

Degree granted by The University of Texas at Arlington

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