Abstract
This experiment is meant to measure the effects of oil viscosity and water vapor temperature on the nucleation rate of droplets on lubricant-infused surfaces. To accomplish this, three different lubricants with a range of viscosities were used. Each lubricant was placed on top on a glass stage with a coating of Glaco, a superhydrophobic surface coating, to create the lubricant-infused surface. The surface was then placed on top of a cold stage in order to cool the sample. Then, hot water vapor was blown over the surface of the sample so that it could condense to form droplets on the surface. After observing the droplet formation, it was found that the droplet nucleation rate increases with increasing water vapor temperature. Also, there is a general trend in the data that as the viscosity of the oil increases, the rate of droplet formation decreases. This trend is not as clear, however, and further experimentation would perhaps be needed to validate this conclusion.
Document Type
Final Report
Class Name
Mechanical Engineering and Material Sciences Independent Study
Date of Submission
12-16-2019
Recommended Citation
Lorberg, Michael; Sun, Jianxing; and Weisensee, Patricia, "The Effects of Oil Viscosity and Water Vapor Temperature on Droplet Condensation in Lubricant-Infused Surfaces" (2019). Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science Independent Study. 103.
https://openscholarship.wustl.edu/mems500/103