HYDROPHOBIC PROPERTIES OF SURFACES AS A CHARACTERISTIC OF CAR DEFLECTORS

Modern additive technologies involve the use of new materials, the characteristics of which are not always studied, in relation to the tasks of the application area. The results of a comparative study of the hydrophobic properties of plastic used for 3D printing of some automotive parts designed to form controlled liquid flows are presented. A hydraulic stand was developed and experimental values of the contact angle of wetting and the maximum width of flow spreading in the contact zone with the 3D surface were obtained. It was found that the probability of moisture penetration into the interior of the car, due to the «dispersion» of liquid droplets on the deflectors, can be reduced by increasing the hydrophobicity of the reflective surface in the contact zone with the oncoming flow.