Hydrophobic Membrane Wettability: Effects of Salinity and Temperature

In this study, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were used to investigate the effects of salinity (NaCl) and temperature (25 °C and 80 °C) on the wettability of droplets on a realistically modeled hydrophobic PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) surface. Droplet sizes of 20, 25, and 30 nm were analyzed...

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Main Author: Orhan Kaya
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Membranes
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0375/15/2/58
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author Orhan Kaya
author_facet Orhan Kaya
author_sort Orhan Kaya
collection DOAJ
description In this study, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were used to investigate the effects of salinity (NaCl) and temperature (25 °C and 80 °C) on the wettability of droplets on a realistically modeled hydrophobic PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) surface. Droplet sizes of 20, 25, and 30 nm were analyzed using both pure water and 8.45% NaCl solutions. The results indicated that salinity increased the contact angles, strengthening the PTFE’s hydrophobicity by disrupting the water’s hydrogen bonding at the interface and reducing the spreading area. Higher temperatures also led to an increase in contact angles by decreasing water structuring, although this effect was less pronounced than that of salinity. Ion concentration analysis revealed that a significant number of ions migrated away from the PTFE surface, a phenomenon further clarified through radial distribution function (RDF) analysis.
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series Membranes
spelling doaj-art-1694b16f2fbd4dce9cb3c9a26d2d88d72025-08-20T03:12:15ZengMDPI AGMembranes2077-03752025-02-011525810.3390/membranes15020058Hydrophobic Membrane Wettability: Effects of Salinity and TemperatureOrhan Kaya0Department of Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA 18015, USAIn this study, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were used to investigate the effects of salinity (NaCl) and temperature (25 °C and 80 °C) on the wettability of droplets on a realistically modeled hydrophobic PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) surface. Droplet sizes of 20, 25, and 30 nm were analyzed using both pure water and 8.45% NaCl solutions. The results indicated that salinity increased the contact angles, strengthening the PTFE’s hydrophobicity by disrupting the water’s hydrogen bonding at the interface and reducing the spreading area. Higher temperatures also led to an increase in contact angles by decreasing water structuring, although this effect was less pronounced than that of salinity. Ion concentration analysis revealed that a significant number of ions migrated away from the PTFE surface, a phenomenon further clarified through radial distribution function (RDF) analysis.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0375/15/2/58hydrophobic surfacewettabilitytemperature effectssalinity effects
spellingShingle Orhan Kaya
Hydrophobic Membrane Wettability: Effects of Salinity and Temperature
Membranes
hydrophobic surface
wettability
temperature effects
salinity effects
title Hydrophobic Membrane Wettability: Effects of Salinity and Temperature
title_full Hydrophobic Membrane Wettability: Effects of Salinity and Temperature
title_fullStr Hydrophobic Membrane Wettability: Effects of Salinity and Temperature
title_full_unstemmed Hydrophobic Membrane Wettability: Effects of Salinity and Temperature
title_short Hydrophobic Membrane Wettability: Effects of Salinity and Temperature
title_sort hydrophobic membrane wettability effects of salinity and temperature
topic hydrophobic surface
wettability
temperature effects
salinity effects
url https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0375/15/2/58
work_keys_str_mv AT orhankaya hydrophobicmembranewettabilityeffectsofsalinityandtemperature