Mehanna, Yasmin 
ORCID: 0000-0002-2088-3571
(2022)
The Development of Superhydrophobic Materials for Real-World Applications.
PhD thesis, University of Liverpool.
|
Text
201372100_Apr2022.pdf - Unspecified Download (15MB) | Preview |
Abstract
Inspired by many natural systems, superhydrophobic materials have been widely reported throughout the scientific literature. Their distinguished properties, owing to their inherent hydrophobicity and rough morphology, allowed their development for several application fields. In spite of their promising functionalities, the commercial availability of these materials is still limited. This is attributed to several factors, including material compatibility, inadequate deposition routes, physical resilience, and scaling-up complications. While the reported methods to fabricate novel surfaces are abundant, the consideration of these limiting factors is crucial for the wider applicability of superhydrophobic surfaces. The aim of this thesis is to promote the applicability of superhydrophobic surfaces in real-life applications. This is achieved by investigating the limitations of these surfaces and attempting to address them. The inclusion of heat-sensitive substrates was attempted for a heat-dependant deposition method, which was achieved by re-designing the technical setup and re-adjusting the deposition parameters accordingly (Chapter 2). Following this, the signified influence of coatings resilience on their applicability motivated the introduction of a simple analysis methodology for resilience assessment, combining image analysis and mass-loss tracking (Chapter 3). In addition, the investigation of resilience-enhancement of polymer/particle composite coatings was conducted, aiming to relate the properties of coating components to the observed robustness (Chapter 4). After that, the inclusion of recycled waste polymers was attempted to fabricate a superhydrophobic filter for oil/water separation, through the utilisation of micronized polymer powder and investigation of the optimum treatment conditions (Chapter 5). Finally, the applicability of superhydrophobic coatings in protecting water-sensitive materials was examined as an example of an important application of superhydrophobic coatings (Chapter 6).
| Item Type: | Thesis (PhD) |
|---|---|
| Divisions: | Faculty of Science and Engineering > School of Physical Sciences |
| Depositing User: | Symplectic Admin |
| Date Deposited: | 12 Jul 2022 10:34 |
| Last Modified: | 18 Jan 2023 20:56 |
| DOI: | 10.17638/03157323 |
| Supervisors: |
|
| URI: | https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3157323 |
Dimensions
Dimensions
