Wettability
SILSEF is developping micro or nanopatterns to enhance surface intrinsec properties. To determine the effects of the nanostructures, SILSEF also develops its own characterization benches for roll off angle and frost/fog.
The ALPIN (TM) bench was developed to characterize functional anti-adhesion on micro or nano-patterned surfaces. It provides complementary information to standard contact angle measurement.
Transitional phases in morphological evolution of drops before roll-off can be identified. This bench enables dynamic adhesion measurements of various liquids on a wide range of materials, for research and industrial applications, including biofilm formation detection with the ability to evaluate residual liquid during and after drop roll-off.
Anti frost surfaces
Anti frost and ice are widely spread problematics for industrial applications: from windshields to airplane wings, reducing the ice formation is an energetic and environmental must. SILSEF patterns have been used to delay the ice formation on several materials such as polymer, glass or silicon (see below).
Anti fog/Hydrophilic surfaces
Hydrophilic surfaces can be used to prevent fog formation on surfaces such as mirrors or windshield. SILSEF is able to make super hydrophilic surface were the water droplets immediately spread all over the surface, just by nanostructuring a naturally hydrophilic material.
Hydrophobic surfaces
By combining the right nanopattern to a hydrophobic material, SILSEF can make super water repellent surfaces, were the droplets do not adhere and just bounce on the surface. It is also used to clean a surface just by rolling water drop which adsorb drops and pollutants.
Water repellent etched Si and glass substrates
Water repellent sol-gel coated sapphire substrates: naked substrate (left), coated substrate (center) coated and nano-patterned substrate
Water repellent hot embossed polymer substrate
Self cleaning super-hydrophobic samples, with water repellency properties. The dust and pollution deposited on the surface has more affinity toward water than with the nanopatterned surface.