title: Combined hydrophobicity and mechanical durability through surface nanoengineering.
abstract: This paper reports combined hydrophobicity and mechanical durability through the nanoscale engineering of surfaces in the form of nanorod-polymer composites. Specifically, the hydrophobicity derives from nanoscale features of mechanically hard ZnO nanorods and the mechanical durability derives from the composite structure of a hard ZnO nanorod core and soft polymer shell. Experimental characterization correlates the morphology of the nanoengineered surfaces with the combined hydrophobicity and mechanical durability, and reveals the responsible mechanisms. Such surfaces may find use in applications, such as boat hulls, that benefit from hydrophobicity and require mechanical durability.
authors: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut 06268, USA.
authors: Paul R
authors: PR
authors: Elliott
authors: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, Florida 32224, USA.
authors: Stephen P
authors: SP
authors: Stagon
authors: Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
authors: Hanchen
authors: H
authors: Huang
authors: Pratt &Whitney, 1 Financial Plaza, East Hartford, Connecticut 06103, USA.
authors: David U
authors: DU
authors: Furrer
authors: United Technologies Research Center, 411 Silver Ln, East Hartford, Connecticut 06118, USA.
authors: Sergei F
authors: SF
authors: Burlatsky
authors: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Hartford, West Hartford, Connecticut 06117, USA.
authors: Thomas P
authors: TP
authors: Filburn