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Superhydrophobic fibre networks loaded with functionalized fillers

University of British Columbia

In this thesis a series of fluorocarbon plasma treatment experiments (Plasma enhanced chemical deposition (PECVD)) were performed to study the effect of filler type and concentration on the wetting behavior of handsheets which are made from pulp using precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC), kaolin clay, and talc as a filler. The plasma treatment was performed in two steps; first using oxygen plasma in order to create nanoscale roughness on the surface of the handsheet; and second fluorocarbon deposition plasma in order to add a layer of low surface energy material. The contact angle of droplets of deionized water on all of the handsheets increased after plasma treatment. However, although some of the handsheets have low concentrations of filler, and therefore the fibre effect should be dominant after the treatment, it was found that the type of filler has a significant effect. It was also observed that roughness of the surface plays a key role in the wettability of handsheets and increased the hydrophobicity. The water vapor transmission rate values show that plasma hydrophobization does not prevent vapor uptake into the paper, although it is good barrier to water. The same plasma treatment was performed on the surface of PCC and kaolin clay fillers in order to fabricate partial hydrophobic fillers. The goal was to use these treated fillers in handsheets and study their wetting behavior. The plasma treatment on the surface of kaolin clay increased its contact angle, however no effect on PCC fillers was observed immediately after the treatment.

Text

2013-01-15

Attribution 3.0 Unported

http://hdl.handle.net/2429/43851

Chemical and Biological Engineering

University of British Columbia

UBCV

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/