Dresden 2011 – scientific programme
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CPP: Fachverband Chemische Physik und Polymerphysik
CPP 9: Poster: Biopolymers and Biomaterials
CPP 9.3: Poster
Monday, March 14, 2011, 17:30–19:30, P2
The Salvinia effect: Measuring the water adhesion on structures of biological air retaining surfaces — •Daniel Gandyra1, Matthias Mail1, Aaron Weis1, Anke Kaltenmaier1, Matthias Barczewski1, Stefan Walheim1, Kerstin Koch4, Martin Brede3, Alfred Leder3, Holger Bohn2, Wilhelm Barthlott2, and Thomas Schimmel1 — 1Institute of Applied Physics, Institute of Nanotechnology, and Center for Functional Nanostructures (CFN), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology — 2Nees-Institut for Biodiversity of Plants, University of Bonn — 3Lehrstuhl Strömungsmechanik, Fakultät für Maschinenbau und Schiffstechnik, University of Rostock — 4Biologie und Nanobiologie, Hochschule Rhein-Waal
A novel mechanism for long-term air retention under water is found in the sophisticated surface design of the water fern Salvinia. Its floating leaves are evenly covered with complex hydrophobic hairs retaining a layer of air when submerged under water. Surprisingly the terminal cells of the hairs are hydrophilic. These hydrophilic patches stabilize the air layer by pinning the air*water interface [1]. This *Salvinia Effect* provides an innovative concept to develop biomimetic surfaces with long-term air-retention capabilities for under water applications. In order to understand this stabilization effect one has to measure the water adhesion of those structures. We show a novel method to determine the water adhesion on those surfaces.
[1] Barthlott, W.; Schimmel, T. et al.: The Salvinia paradox: superhydrophobic surfaces with hydrophilic pins for air-retention under water. Advanced Materials 22, 2325-2328, 2010.