Outcomes from water drop impact on hydrophobic meshes

Abstract

Understanding water drop impact on meshes is valuable to design passive systems for atmospheric water collection. By investigating water drop impact on hydrophobic and superhydrophobic surfaces, here, we identify the different drop impact outcomes and build outcome maps within the pertinent parameter spaces, based on Weber number and contact angles. Furthermore, we quantitatively evaluate critical factors such as the captured volume and spray characteristics of the penetrating liquid and also measure the drop rebound time, reporting that full rebound occurs on superhydrophobic meshes surfaces even at high We numbers, as the Cassie–Baxter wetting state is maintained.