Visualization and measurement of the air film close ultra-hydrophobic surfaces

The ultra-hydrophobic surfaces have the prospect of great importance in industry, both in applications demanding easy cleaning, and they are presumed to reduce loss when the active parts of hydraulic machines are treated. Interaction of fluids with ultra-hydrophobic surface is accompanied by creation of layer of air, so called air film, which depends on the quality of the surface. The quality of the surface is influenced by the matrix roughness, the character of physical or chemical cover. This properties lead to monolithic air layer presented as air film, or lead to plurality of bubbles of various sizes seated upon the surface. The air film can be observed visually at sufficient magnification and the dynamic interaction between fluid flow and air film can be studied with Global Imaging methods, particularly Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV). There is the velocity profile in the vicinity of the air film in the main interest of the research. Here we present the visualization of air film depending on Reynolds number of flowing liquid.