Infused textured polymer surface withstands harsh environment
Résumé
This study focuses on developing environmentally friendly, transparent, and anti-adhesive coatings named Slippery Liquid Infused Porous Surfaces (SLIPS), inspired by the carnivorous plant Nepenthes. These coatings feature oil-infused micro/nano-textures that significantly reduce liquid adhesion regardless of surface tension [1]. While traditional surfaces use perfluorinated compounds, this research explores silicon-based oils as alternatives. Thin films (350-400 µm thickness) with micro-textures are crafted by double molding polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), replicating the topography of laser-ablated stainless-steel molds. The surfaces, which features micro-pits a hundred micrometers deep, are then transferred onto glass substrates and then infused with silicone oil. This oil penetrates due to its chemical similarity to the PDMS matrix, making the surfaces slippery with increased transparency. Optimization of oil infusion aims to maximize retention, followed by shear stress testing for durability. Despite a reduction in oil level observed by digital microscopy after ~100 water immersion cycles, this decrease does not compromise sliding properties, maintaining hysteresis angles below 10° even at low surface tensions. Additionally, to address the primary limitation of lubricant loss under real-world conditions, morphological characterizations and dynamic wetting measurements have been conducted across a wide range of surface tensions before and after wind tunnel tests up to 78 m/s [2]. The observed decrease in oil level correlates with deteriorating sliding properties, informing the identification of pertinent parameters for surfaces better suited for high airflow conditions.
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