2005/09/07 by David Quéré · 4 citations
Materials Science · Engineering · #Surface Modification and Superhydrophobicity #Pickering emulsions and particle stabilization #Fluid Dynamics and Heat Transfer
paper · doi:10.1088/0034-4885/68/11/r01
openalex publication_date 2005/09/07 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01
While the behaviour of large amounts of liquid is dictated by gravity, surface forces become dominant at small scales. They have for example the remarkable ability to make droplets stick to their substrates (even if they are inclined), which is a practical issue in many cases (windshields, window panes, greenhouses, or microfluidic devices). Here we describe how this problem can be overcome with super-hydrophobic materials. These materials are often developed thanks to micro-textures, which decorate a solid surface, and we describe the way such textures modify the wettability of that solid. We conclude by showing the unusual dynamics of drops in a super-hydrophobic situation.