Superhydrophobic surfaces that mimic
surfaces found in nature, such as the lotus leaf, are an attractive research
topic in various fields of study because of their numerous applications. More
recent studies have focused on superhydrophobic surfaces that reduce or
completely stop the accretion of ice and snow on power lines and aircraft that
operate in cold regions. The superhydrophobic phenomena is usually achieved by
creating a dual-scale roughness that is composed of micro- and nano-scale
structures that trap air in-between themselves and reduce the surface energy of
the textured surface.
The objective of this study was to assess
the tribological behavior of micro/nano particle based superhydrophobic coating
mixtures composed of PTFE, composite PTFE/PEEK, diatomaceous earth (DE), and
composite PTFE/ZnO that can be potential candidates for anti-wetting and
anti-icing applications for transportation systems. A contact profilometer was
used to measure and characterize the average roughness and thickness of
coatings. Coating wettability was assessed by measuring the tangent-line
contact angle of static water drops on coated surfaces. Friction and cyclic
abrasive wear tests were conducted via ball-on-flat tribometer using a
spherical tungsten probe at room temperature. Scanning electron microscopy was
used to characterize the physical and chemical properties of the coatings and
identify the wear mechanisms.
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