Computational fluid dynamics analysis of superhydrophobic and superhydrophilic micro-textures for biofouling mitigation

Nazari, Samira (avtor), Zambrano, Lilibeth Angelica (avtor), Silva, Elisabete R. (avtor), Trdan, Uroš (avtor), Culliton, David (avtor)

Micro-texturing has been studied for many decades as a passive antifouling technology. However, most studies have been experimental in nature and lack an informed basis for the selection of the micro-texture architecture. The herein reported preliminary numerical studies explored micro-textured superhydrophobic and superhydrophilic surfaces for mitigating biofouling and related effects, such as Microbial Induced Corrosion (MIC). Surface wettability manipulation is a key mitigation strategy for these issues. A computational model was developed to simulate the spreading behaviour of water droplets (an indicator of wettability) on three micro-textures (cubic, cylindrical, and hemispherical), with varying inter-pillar distances (10, 20, and 30 μm) for both superhydrophobic and superhydrophilic surfaces, with contact angles of 150° and 20°, respectively. Results showed lower Maximum Spreading Diameters (MSD) on the superhydrophobic models, compared to a flat surface. Cubic micro-textures with larger inter-pillar distances reduced MSD by 54.42%, suggesting enhanced water repellence and potentially preventing biofouling and closed-related effects such as MIC. Conversely, all superhydrophilic models had higher MSDs and formed an electrochemically-bound epitaxial aqueous surface layer which could act as a physical and interfacial energy barrier to bio-attachment. Hemispherical morphologies increased the MSD by 68.92%. The findings highlight the criticality of informed computational studies in biomimetic antifouling research whilst also demonstrating the potential benefits of micro-texturing as part of passive antifouling surface technology.

• Jezik: Angleški jezik
• Ključne besede: biofouling, microbial induced corrosion (mic), computational fluid dynamics (cfd), superhydrophobic, spreading diameter
• Vrsta gradiva: Članek v reviji
• Tipologija: 1.01 - Izvirni znanstveni članek
• Organizacija: FS - Fakulteta za strojništvo
• Status publikacije: Objavljeno
• Različica publikacije: Objavljena publikacija
• Leto izida: 2025
• Št. strani: 21 str.
• Številčenje: Vol. 26, art. 104627
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-167974
• UDK: 532.5:621
• ISSN pri članku: 2590-1230
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rineng.2025.104627
• COBISS.SI-ID: 229496835
• Datum objave v RUL: 21.03.2025

Gradivo je del revije

• Naslov: Results in engineering
• Založnik: Elsevier
• ISSN: 2590-1230
• COBISS.SI-ID: 529862681

Licence

• Licenca: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Priznanje avtorstva 4.0 Mednarodna
• Povezava: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.sl
• Opis: To je standardna licenca Creative Commons, ki daje uporabnikom največ možnosti za nadaljnjo uporabo dela, pri čemer morajo navesti avtorja.

Sekundarni jezik

• Jezik: Slovenski jezik
• Ključne besede: biološko obraščanje, mikrobno inducirana korozija (mic), računalniška dinamika fluidov (cfd), superhidrofobnost, premer razlitja