Work

Listening to immersed superhydrophobic surfaces: Acoustic inspection of air plastron layers

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: When immersed in water, a solid coated with a superhydrophobic surface traps an air layer, called a plastron, that shields it from liquid contact. This layer enables underwater respiration in animals and provides drag reduction, anti-corrosion, and antifouling effects. However, plastrons are sensitive to external disturbances and can destabilize. This study demonstrates how plastron acoustic resonance can be used to monitor and measure the trapped air layer volume. Validated against direct observations, the method is portable, noninvasive, and effective for studying plastron stability under realistic conditions and various flow conditions.

Source: Physical Review Fluids

DOI: 10.1103/ghsv-hy11

Authors: Pierre-Brice Bintein, Pierre-Yves Passaggia, Nicolas Mazellier, Adrien Bussonnière

Institutions: Laboratoire Matière et Systèmes Complexes, Laboratoire Pluridisciplinaire de Recherche en Ingénierie des Systèmes, Mécanique et Energétique

Language: English

Topic: Surface Modification and Superhydrophobicity

Subfield: Surfaces, Coatings and Films

Field: Materials Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funder: Agence Nationale de la Recherche

Award: modelling the Interface DEFormation of super-HYdrophobic surfaces in eXtreme conditions