Issue 27, 2024

Wetting on silicone surfaces

Abstract

Silicone is frequently used as a model system to investigate and tune wetting on soft materials. Silicone is biocompatible and shows excellent thermal, chemical, and UV stability. Moreover, the mechanical properties of the surface can be easily varied by several orders of magnitude in a controlled manner. Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is a popular choice for coating applications such as lubrication, self-cleaning, and drag reduction, facilitated by low surface energy. Aiming to understand the underlying interactions and forces, motivated numerous and detailed investigations of the static and dynamic wetting behavior of drops on PDMS-based surfaces. Here, we recognize the three most prevalent PDMS surface variants, namely liquid-infused (SLIPS/LIS), elastomeric, and liquid-like (SOCAL) surfaces. To understand, optimize, and tune the wetting properties of these PDMS surfaces, we review and compare their similarities and differences by discussing (i) the chemical and molecular structure, and (ii) the static and dynamic wetting behavior. We also provide (iii) an overview of methods and techniques to characterize PDMS-based surfaces and their wetting behavior. The static and dynamic wetting ridge is given particular attention, as it dominates energy dissipation, adhesion, and friction of sliding drops and influences the durability of the surfaces. We also discuss special features such as cloaking and wetting-induced phase separation. Key challenges and opportunities of these three surface variants are outlined.

Graphical abstract: Wetting on silicone surfaces

Article information

Article type
Review Article
Submitted
25 Mar 2024
Accepted
21 Jun 2024
First published
02 Jul 2024
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

Soft Matter, 2024,20, 5273-5295

Wetting on silicone surfaces

L. Hauer, A. Naga, R. G. M. Badr, J. T. Pham, W. S. Y. Wong and D. Vollmer, Soft Matter, 2024, 20, 5273 DOI: 10.1039/D4SM00346B

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