The Effects of Ethanol Concentration on Contact angle

School Name

Governor's School for Science & Mathematics

Grade Level

12th Grade

Presentation Topic

Engineering

Presentation Type

Mentored

Mentor

Mentor: Chen Li, University of South Carolina

Oral Presentation Award

2nd Place

Abstract

Heat pipes are used to transfer heat away from a heat source in a variety of applications such as on the International Space Station and in personal computers. Binary fluids, or solutions of two fluids, have been shown to increase the efficiency of heat pipes. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a binary fluid on contact angle. This will aid in the development of more efficient heat pipes. In this case, ethanol and water were used as a binary fluid. The contact angle is the angle at which a droplet contacts a surface. To determine the contact angles of the chosen binary fluid, two silicon surfaces were devised: one hydrophilic, the other hydrophobic. The contact angles of droplets of different concentrations were measured on these surfaces using a device called a goniometer, and this data was analyzed. The hydrophobic surface produced the expected result, which was a linearly decreasing contact angle. The hydrophilic surface, however produced a somewhat unexpected result, and did not have a decreasing contact angle with the increasing concentration of ethanol. These results will allow researchers in the field of heat and mass transfer to further investigate the use of binary fluids in heat pipes.

Location

Wall 223

Start Date

3-25-2017 2:00 PM

Presentation Format

Oral and Written

Group Project

No

COinS
 
Mar 25th, 2:00 PM

The Effects of Ethanol Concentration on Contact angle

Wall 223

Heat pipes are used to transfer heat away from a heat source in a variety of applications such as on the International Space Station and in personal computers. Binary fluids, or solutions of two fluids, have been shown to increase the efficiency of heat pipes. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a binary fluid on contact angle. This will aid in the development of more efficient heat pipes. In this case, ethanol and water were used as a binary fluid. The contact angle is the angle at which a droplet contacts a surface. To determine the contact angles of the chosen binary fluid, two silicon surfaces were devised: one hydrophilic, the other hydrophobic. The contact angles of droplets of different concentrations were measured on these surfaces using a device called a goniometer, and this data was analyzed. The hydrophobic surface produced the expected result, which was a linearly decreasing contact angle. The hydrophilic surface, however produced a somewhat unexpected result, and did not have a decreasing contact angle with the increasing concentration of ethanol. These results will allow researchers in the field of heat and mass transfer to further investigate the use of binary fluids in heat pipes.