Using Multiphase Simulations to Determine the Nature of Self Cleaning Surfaces
School Name
South Carolina Governor's School for Science and Mathematics
Grade Level
12th Grade
Presentation Topic
Physics
Presentation Type
Mentored
Abstract
Throughout the world, there have been countless studies on natural hydrophobic surfaces (examples of which include lotus leaves, bird feathers, and rose petals) in attempts to mimic their self-cleaning properties. Despite these studies, nobody could say for certain how the droplets went from the highly adhesive Wenzel state to the far less adhesive Cassie-Baxter state. To solve this conundrum, we used a many-body dissipative particle dynamics (mDPD) simulation to visualize the coalescence of two water droplets in both the Cassie-Baxter state and the Wenzel state. What we found was the droplets in the Cassie-Baxter state made enough energy in their coalescence to jump off the surface, and the droplets in the Wenzel state, though they couldn’t jump off the surface, were able to transition into the Cassie-Baxter state. This information could be used to better create self-cleaning surfaces, as we now know the process by which they work.
Recommended Citation
Brent, John, "Using Multiphase Simulations to Determine the Nature of Self Cleaning Surfaces" (2022). South Carolina Junior Academy of Science. 176.
https://scholarexchange.furman.edu/scjas/2022/all/176
Location
HSS 209
Start Date
4-2-2022 11:15 AM
Presentation Format
Oral Only
Group Project
No
Using Multiphase Simulations to Determine the Nature of Self Cleaning Surfaces
HSS 209
Throughout the world, there have been countless studies on natural hydrophobic surfaces (examples of which include lotus leaves, bird feathers, and rose petals) in attempts to mimic their self-cleaning properties. Despite these studies, nobody could say for certain how the droplets went from the highly adhesive Wenzel state to the far less adhesive Cassie-Baxter state. To solve this conundrum, we used a many-body dissipative particle dynamics (mDPD) simulation to visualize the coalescence of two water droplets in both the Cassie-Baxter state and the Wenzel state. What we found was the droplets in the Cassie-Baxter state made enough energy in their coalescence to jump off the surface, and the droplets in the Wenzel state, though they couldn’t jump off the surface, were able to transition into the Cassie-Baxter state. This information could be used to better create self-cleaning surfaces, as we now know the process by which they work.
