Adhesion force measurement on superhydrophobic and patterned surfaces using cantilever deflection

This study explores the wetting and adhesion force behavior of superhydrophobic (SHP) surfaces using a cantilever-based force measurement technique. Two substrate types-a fully SHP-coated surface and a patterned SHP/hydrophilic surface were examined under varying retraction velocities. Adhesion forces were derived from cantilever deflection upon droplet detachment. The results showed that adhesion on the fully SHP surface remained velocity-independent, demonstrating coating stability and robustness. In contrast, patterned surfaces exhibited velocity-dependent adhesion and a distinct depinning behavior at low speeds. The results matched well with calculations using contact angles, showing that the method is accurate. This technique can help in studying how water behaves on special surfaces, which is useful for things such as self-cleaning materials, anti-fog coatings, and controlling tiny droplets etc.