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Wettability gradient-driven directional water transport across thin fibrous materials

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conference contribution
posted on 2011-01-01, 00:00 authored by Hong Wang, J Ding, Xungai Wang, Tong Lin
Recently, novel properties have been observed when superhydrophobic and superhydrophilic surfaces are combined. For example, the Stenocara beetle, an insect in the Namib Desert, has an incredible ability to capture fresh water from air for its survival in the dry desert environment [1]. Such a feature derives from its special wing that has a hydrophilic-patterned superhydrophobic surface. Materials having a similar surface feature also exhibited a similar water-harvesting function [2]. A spider silk has been reported to show a periodic alternation of hydrophobic and hydrophilic surfaces along the fiberlength direction [3], which can quickly collect water from air. It was also observed that water droplets moved in one direction along a superhydrophobic-to-superhydrophilic gradient surface [4]. However, all these works are based on two dimension surfaces. The work on water transfer through porous media induced by a gradient wettability change has received little attention until very recently [5]. In this study, we have developed a simple, but very effective and versatile, method to produce wettability gradient across the thickness of fabrics, and demonstrated that the fabrics have the ability to spontaneously transfer water unidirectionally through the fibrous architecture. A plain weave polyester fabric was mainly used as a sample material.

History

Pagination

140 - 141

Location

Charleston, S. C.

Open access

  • Yes

Start date

2011-10-11

End date

2011-10-13

Language

eng

Publication classification

E2 Full written paper - non-refereed / Abstract reviewed

Copyright notice

2011, The Authors

Title of proceedings

Proceedings of the 2011 International Symposium on New Frontiers in Fiber Materials Science

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