Articles for manipulating impinging liquids and methods of manufacturing same

Abstract

This invention relates generally to an article that includes a non-wetting surface having a dynamic contact angle of at least about 90°. The surface is patterned with macro-scale features configured to induce controlled asymmetry in a liquid film produced by impingement of a droplet onto the surface, thereby reducing time of contact between the droplet and the surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An article comprising a non-wetting surface having a dynamic contact angle of at least about 90°, said surface patterned with macro-scale features configured to induce controlled asymmetry in a liquid film produced by impingement of a droplet onto the surface, thereby reducing time of contact between the droplet and the surface. 
     
     
         2 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the non-wetting surface is superhydrophobic. 
     
     
         3 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the non-wetting surface is superoleophobic. 
     
     
         4 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the non-wetting surface is supermetallophobic. 
     
     
         5 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the surface comprises a non-wetting material. 
     
     
         6 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the surface comprises non-wetting features. 
     
     
         7 . The article of  claim 6 , wherein the non-wetting features are nanoscale pores. 
     
     
         8 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the surface is heated above its Leidenfrost temperature. 
     
     
         9 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the macro-scale features comprise ridges having height A r  and spacing λ r , with A r /h greater than about 0.01 and λ r /A r  greater than or equal to about 1, wherein h is lamella thickness upon droplet impingement onto the surface. 
     
     
         10 - 19 . 
     
     
         20 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the macro-scale features are hemispherical protrusions. 
     
     
         21 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the macro-scale features comprise a sinusoidal profile having amplitude A c  and period λ c , with A c /h>0.01 and λ c /A c ≧2, wherein h is lamella thickness upon droplet impingement onto the surface. 
     
     
         27 - 33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the surface comprises an alkane. 
     
     
         35 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the surface comprises a fluoropolymer. 
     
     
         36 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the surface comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of teflon, trichloro(1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorooctyl)silane (TCS), octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS), heptadecafluoro-1,1,2,2-tetrahydrodecyltrichlorosilane, fluoroPOSS, a ceramic material, a polymeric material, a fluorinated material, an intermetallic compound, and a composite material. 
     
     
         37 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the surface comprises a polymeric material, the polymeric material comprising at least one of polytetrafluoroethylene, fluoroacrylate, fluoroeurathane, fluorosilicone, fluorosilane, modified carbonate, chlorosilanes, and silicone. 
     
     
         38 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the surface comprises a ceramic material, the ceramic material comprising at least one of titanium carbide, titanium nitride, chromium nitride, boron nitride, chromium carbide, molybdenum carbide, titanium carbonitride, electroless nickel, zirconium nitride, fluorinated silicon dioxide, titanium dioxide, tantalum oxide, tantalum nitride, diamond-like carbon, and fluorinated diamond-like carbon. 
     
     
         39 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the surface comprises an intermetallic compound, the intermetallic compound comprising at least one of nickel aluminide and titanium aluminide. 
     
     
         40 - 42 . (canceled) 
     
     
         43 . An atomizer comprising a non-wetting surface having a dynamic contact angle of at least about 90°, said surface patterned with macro-scale features configured to induce controlled asymmetry in a liquid film produced by impingement of a droplet onto the surface, thereby promoting breakup of the droplet on the surface. 
     
     
         44 . The atomizer of  claim 43 , wherein the non-wetting surface is supermetallophobic. 
     
     
         45 . The atomizer of  claim 43 , wherein the droplet comprises a molten metal.