Wetting of Auxetic Metamaterials
Lead Research Organisation:
Sheffield Hallam University
Department Name: College of Business, Technology & Eng
Abstract
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Publications
Armstrong S
(2023)
Wetting transitions on superhydrophobic auxetic metamaterials
in Applied Physics Letters
McHale G
(2024)
Transforming Auxetic Metamaterials into Superhydrophobic Surfaces
in Small Structures
McHale G
(2023)
Superhydrophobicity of Auxetic Metamaterials
| Description | We have analytically modelled surfaces with a specific honeycomb geometry and demonstrated through modelling the wetting response of the surface under strain. We have shown that a negative Poisson's ratio (auxetic) mechanical metamaterial, one which when stretched also expands in the orthogonal lateral direction, displays a unique dependence of the superhydrophobicity on tensile strain as the space between solid elements of the auxetic lattice expands. This work has informed the experimental programme being undertaken by our collaborators at Edinburgh University, which has experimentally confirmed our analytical model predictions. We have extended the micromechanical modelling work (above) to a macromechanical approach, where the wetting response with strain is purely dependent on the effective mechanical properties and knowledge of the initial solid fraction of the material. This is enabling us to broaden the predictive capability beyond the initial honeycomb lattice considered initially and, when coupled with an atlas of auxetic metamaterial structures we have also compiled, will enable surfaces with bespoke wetting properties to be designed, made and tested. We have also reconciled the surface of a natural system known to have interesting wetting responses with a known auxetic lattice structure, and are developing models for the strain-responsive wetting properties to drive the development of nature inspired wetting surfaces. |
| Exploitation Route | The principles we have discovered offer a new approach to designing superhydrophobic materials for self- cleaning surfaces, droplet transportation, droplet encapsulation and oil-water separation. We are opening up a new field at the intersection of wettability and mechanical metamaterials and it is likely our research will provide impetus for significant new academic activity and publications. We are already attracting preliminary interest, as a result of our dissemination activities in Year 2 of the project, from industry on the potential of strain responsive wetting of auxetic mechanical metamaterials. |
| Sectors | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Agriculture, Food and Drink,Chemicals,Environment,Leisure Activities, including Sports, Recreation and Tourism,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology,Transport |
| Description | University of Edinburgh |
| Organisation | Northumbria University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The partnership is Sheffield Hallam University (EP/T025190/1) and University of Edinburgh/Northumbria University (EP/T025158/1). The Hallam team is providing design and modelling expertise in the mechanical and wetting response of auxetic metamaterials under strain. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The Edinburgh team is providing fabrication and testing expertise in the mechanical and wetting response of auxetic metamaterials under strain. The Northumbria team is providing additional modelling expertise in the wetting response of materials. |
| Impact | This is the first year of a project establishing for the first time the link between novel auxetic materials and wetting behaviour. Consequently, at this stage the partnership has restricted research findings to within the team prior to planned publication of high impact 'first claim' paper supported by conference presentations in the second year. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | University of Edinburgh |
| Organisation | University of Edinburgh |
| Department | School of Engineering |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The partnership is Sheffield Hallam University (EP/T025190/1) and University of Edinburgh/Northumbria University (EP/T025158/1). The Hallam team is providing design and modelling expertise in the mechanical and wetting response of auxetic metamaterials under strain. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The Edinburgh team is providing fabrication and testing expertise in the mechanical and wetting response of auxetic metamaterials under strain. The Northumbria team is providing additional modelling expertise in the wetting response of materials. |
| Impact | This is the first year of a project establishing for the first time the link between novel auxetic materials and wetting behaviour. Consequently, at this stage the partnership has restricted research findings to within the team prior to planned publication of high impact 'first claim' paper supported by conference presentations in the second year. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | 75th Annual Meeting of the APS Division of Fluid Dynamics |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Oral presentation on "Wetting of auxetic metamaterials" to a key international conference for the research community addressing the impact of fluid dynamics research on global challenges. Purpose was to raise profile within the International network of academics, and raised a number of enquiries/questions on the day. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/DFD22/Session/A30.1 |
| Description | EPSRC Metamaterials Network showcase |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Gave presentation on "Auxetic Materials Research at SHU" to a virtual mechanical metamaterials showcase run by the EPSRC-funded Metamaterials Network. Purpose was to raise profile within the UK network of academics and industrialists and raised a number of enquiries/questions on the day. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Second International Conference on Nature Inspired Surface Engineering - oral |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Oral presentation on "Wetting of auxetic metamaterials" to a key international conference for the surface engineering research community. Purpose was to raise profile within the International network of academics, and raised a number of enquiries/questions on the day. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://ameriscience.org/nise-2022/ |
| Description | Second International Conference on Nature Inspired Surface Engineering - poster |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Poster presentation on "Analytical models for the wettability of auxetic metamaterials" to a key international conference for the surface engineering research community. Purpose was to raise profile within the International network of academics, and raised a number of enquiries/questions on the day. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://ameriscience.org/nise-2022/ |
| Description | UK Fluids Conference 2022 - 1.2 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Oral presentation on "Wetting of auxetic metamaterials" to a key conference for the fluid mechanics research community. Abstract on page 38 of abstract book at URL below. Purpose was to raise profile within the UK network of academics and their international collaborators, and raised a number of enquiries/questions on the day. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VmXw6HDo0KSZ7Fb8q_qTaVMb0XOgo1hc/view |
| Description | UK Fluids Conference 2022 - 2/2 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Oral presentation on "Analytical models for the wettability of auxetic metamaterials" to a key conference for the fluid mechanics research community. Abstract on page 40of abstract book at URL below. Purpose was to raise profile within the UK network of academics and their international collaborators, and raised a number of enquiries/questions on the day. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VmXw6HDo0KSZ7Fb8q_qTaVMb0XOgo1hc/view |
| Description | UK Sports Engineering Seminar Day 2022 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Gave invited presentation on "Smart Materials for Sports" to a one-day seminar for sports engineers run by the International Sports Engineering Association and hosted at Manchester Metropolitan University. Purpose was to raise profile within the sports engineering of researchers, academics and industrialists and raised a number of enquiries/questions on the day. Subsequent contact and request for further information from a company specific to the Wetting of Auxetic Metamaterials project. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/uk-sports-engineering-seminar-day-2022-tickets-301434397397 |