Thermo-responsive polymer grafted aluminum surface to actively modulate water wettability

Feini Zhang, Shuqi Lai, Anthony M. Jacobi, Paul V. Braun

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Thermo-responsive wettability is studied for adaptive surface, which can potentially help to enhance the performance of thermal devices under various operation conditions. Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) or PNIPAAm polymer brush can be grafted onto solid surfaces so that at temperatures below the lower critical solution temperature (LCST), the surface is hydrophilic, while at temperatures above LCST, it automatically becomes more hydrophobic. In this study, PNIPAAm is grafted on to aluminum alloy 6061, which is a multipurpose alloy commonly used in thermal mechanical systems. It is demonstrated by water static contact angle experiment at varies temperature that, the surface is hydrophobic at temperatures above LCST, and hydrophilic below LCST. The results are compared with bare aluminum surface at similar temperatures. Grafting PNIPAAm polymer brush on roughened aluminum surface would result in the ability to automatically switch between superhydrophobic state and superhydrophilic state in response to temperature change.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationDevelopment and Characterization of Multifunctional Materials; Mechanics and Behavior of Active Materials; Modeling, Simulation and Control of Adaptive Systems
PublisherAmerican Society of Mechanical Engineers
ISBN (Electronic)9780791857298
DOIs
StatePublished - 2015
EventASME 2015 Conference on Smart Materials, Adaptive Structures and Intelligent Systems, SMASIS 2015 - Colorado Springs, United States
Duration: Sep 21 2015Sep 23 2015

Publication series

NameASME 2015 Conference on Smart Materials, Adaptive Structures and Intelligent Systems, SMASIS 2015
Volume1

Other

OtherASME 2015 Conference on Smart Materials, Adaptive Structures and Intelligent Systems, SMASIS 2015
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityColorado Springs
Period9/21/159/23/15

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Civil and Structural Engineering
  • Control and Systems Engineering
  • Mechanics of Materials
  • Building and Construction

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