ENGINEERING SUPERHYDROPHOBIC BEHAVIOR IN 3D-PRINTED STAINLESS STEEL COMPOSITES
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Authors
Budan, Justin M.
Subjects
additive manufacturing
stainless steel
carbon nanotubes
wettability
superhydrophobicity
stainless steel
carbon nanotubes
wettability
superhydrophobicity
Advisors
Nieto, Andy
Ansell, Troy
Date of Issue
2022-06
Date
Publisher
Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School
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Abstract
This thesis discusses the wettability of 316L stainless steel composites using carbon nanotubes and manufactured via a selective laser melting. Superhydrophobicity is created through the combination of low surface tension and surface roughness at a micro to nanoscopic scale, and it has become a topic of vigorous study over the past 20 years. Previous studies have relied primarily on processes such as etching and nanomaterial arrays to generate surface roughness, followed by the application of harmful chemicals (e.g., fluorosilanes) to modify surface energy and achieve superhydrophobicity. Stainless steel powder (316L) was combined with carbon nanotubes, which demonstrate near-hydrophobic properties, via high energy ball milling in attempts to reduce the materials surface energy. An ideal pillared surface geometry based on natural superhydrophobicity was produced through additive manufacturing using multiple concentrations of carbon nanotube composites. Through material characterization including sessile water drop contact angle measurements, optical profilometry, and microscopy, it was determined that all samples remained hydrophilic in nature due to insufficient surface energy modification using carbon nanotubes. However, trends indicate that further increasing CNT concentration, controlling printing laser energy density, and slight model modifications could demonstrate hydrophobic effects.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE)
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NPS Report Number
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Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.