07/23/2021
By Susan Pryputniewicz

The Biomedical Engineering and Biotechnology program invites you to attend a doctoral dissertation defense by Yujie Wang on “Superhydrophobic Coatings for the Reduction of Ice Adhesion and Protein Adsorption.”

Name: Yujie Wang
Date: Friday, Aug. 6, 2021
Time: 8 to 10 a.m.
Location: This will be a virtual defense via Zoom. Those interested in attending should contact yujie_wang@student.uml.edu and committee advisor Joey_mead@uml.edu at least 24 hours prior to the defense to request access to the meeting.

Committee Chair (Advisor): Joey Mead, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Plastics Engineering, University of Massachusetts Lowell

Committee Members:

  • Carol Barry, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Plastics Engineering, University of Massachusetts Lowell
  • Boce Zhang, Ph.D., Assistant Professor Department of Biomedical and Nutritional Sciences, University of Massachusetts Lowell
  • Shmuel Kenig, Ph.D., Professor, Polymer Materials Engineering Department, The Pernick Faculty of Engineering, Shenkar College of Engineering Design and Art, Ramat Gan, Israel
  • Hanna Dodiuk, Ph.D., Professor, Polymer Materials Engineering Department, The Pernick Faculty of Engineering, Shenkar College of Engineering Design and Art, Ramat Gan, Israel
  • JoAnn Ratto, Ph.D., The U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Soldier Center (DEVCOM Soldier Center), Natick, MA
  • Jinde Zhang, Ph.D., Post-Doctoral Researcher, Department of Plastics Engineering, University of Massachusetts Lowell

Abstract:
Ice accumulation and protein adsorption are two undesirable surface issues for many applications. To date, many strategies have been applied to address these two situations. Superhydrophobic surfaces, with hierarchical micro and nanostructures, are considered promising candidates to provide alternative solutions to these to problems.  In this research, thermoset and thermoplastic-based superhydrophobic coatings with different surface topography were first explored for their performance in reducing ice adhesion. It was found that the silica nanoparticle content played a significant role in ice adhesion reduction. Visualization of the solid-ice interface on the coated substrate surfaced revealed that with increasing particle content, the large-scale structures exhibited higher height and larger peak-peak distance. This topology resulted in a smaller solid-water interface fraction and a smaller solid-ice contact area, which was found to be the critical factor in reducing ice adhesion. The formation of cracks, however, at higher particle contents changed the coatings’ failure mechanism and reduced the ability of the coatings to prevent ice adhesion.  Therefore, nanoparticle loading must be optimized when superhydrophobic coatings are used to reduce ice adhesion. Last, the effect of protein solution on air plastron stability of the superhydrophobic surface was systematically studied. It was found that the air plastron stability was significantly weakened in protein solutions compared to water. It was demonstrated that  protein solution can accelerate the air plastron removal from the superhydrophobic surface, the correlation that could guide future superhydrophobic surface fabrication to create surfaces with a greater air plastron stability in protein adsorption control.

All interested students and faculty members are invited to attend the online defense via remote access.