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Abstract
This independent study focused on the fabrication and preliminary testing of conductivitypatterned substrates for use in Marangoni-driven condensation experiments. The main goal was to develop a patterned aluminum plate capable of sustaining a temperature gradient across the plate surface while maintaining sufficient thermal conductivity for phase change heat transfer. The plate was fabricated using a CNC mini mill, where a custom machining program was developed to create the patterned grooves. After fabrication, different surface treatments were explored to improve surface uniformity and fill the machined grooves, all while attempting to preserve thermal properties. PDMS was tested as a filling material, but droplet imaging showed that droplets became stuck at the groove location, instead of moving through the surface, indicating that the surface was not uniformly flat. Infrared imaging was used to determine whether variations in groove depth (i.e., the offset from the plate surface) resulted in measurable temperature differences between the groove regions and the surrounding surface. Overall, this work established a fabrication process for conductivity-patterned substrates and provided initial experimental insights into surface uniformity and thermal behavior.
Document Type
Final Report
Class Name
Mechanical Engineering and Material Sciences Independent Study
Date of Submission
5-10-2026
Recommended Citation
Palomino, Harumi, "Surface Patterning to Enhance Condensation Heat Transfer" (2026). Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science Independent Study. 324.
https://openscholarship.wustl.edu/mems500/324