If you painted your boat with hydrophobic would it go faster — or slower? Would it repel water? Would it stop floating and sink to the bottom with you paddling underwater? Would all the water be so scared it jumps out of the river and leaves you confused and paddling against the sand? Will there be less friction on the boat, possibly resulting in less drag?
Hydrophobic means “afraid of water” in ancient Greek. Hydrophobic seemingly repels water, but really it doesn’t attract water. Contact angles are the measurement between the surface and side of a water drop. Hydrophobic surfaces have a contact angle ranging from 90° to 150°. Superhydrophobic surfaces have contact angles from 150° and up. Drops are rounder if the contact angle is higher. Water drops on superhydrophobic surfaces are round like a ball so they roll easily and have less drag. Water drops on non-hydrophobic surfaces look like a really flat tire so they have more drag. Drag is resistance caused by friction. Drag makes things go slower.
Post time: Jun-28-2017