Fluorinated Nanocomposite Coatings for Confinement and Pumpless Transport of Low‐Surface‐Tension Liquids

• DOI: 10.1002/admi.201901105
• Publication Date: 2019-08-19T06:55:00Z
• Authors: Jared M. Morrissette; Aritra Ghosh; Raymond Campos; Joseph E. Mates; Joseph M. Mabry; Constantine M. Me...
• Keywords: Surface Modification; Superhydrophobic coating; Silsesquioxane

Abstract Preparing surfaces that repel low‐surface‐tension liquids, such as oils and hydrocarbon fuels with surface tensions below 30 mN m −1 , poses more challenges than attaining water repellency. Oleophobic are needed when organic fluids must be contained to avoid pollutant spreading. A composite material system is presented comprised of fluorinated silica (filler), a perfluoroalkyl methacrylate copolymer (binder), polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (additive; considered the lowest surface‐energy date), which can applied thin coating onto any substrate. The shown liquids tension low 23.8 . Regions coatings made superoleophilic (high affinity other hydrocarbons) through laser processing, thus generating wettability‐patterned passively manage transport by harnessing forces arising from spatial confinement fluid. rapid (>20 cm s ) pumpless several liquid hydrocarbons on open‐air, wettability‐engineered demonstrated, respective rates compared those water. sprayable formulation post‐processing steps used in this work offer tractable approach rapidly fabricate test devices effectively contain, manage, pumplessly open surfaces.