Over the past two decades our group has developed techniques to introduce specific functional groups onto the surfaces of inorganic substrates (primarily oxidized silicon) with the major goal of understanding dynamic wetting. Tens of thousands of samples were prepared and contact data were recorded. We wrestled with this data and came up with some consistencies that we used in analyzing new data. These approaches led to deep insight into the molecular level events that cause contact angle hysteresis. This chemistry required competent preparative chemists who could reproduce conditions precisely.<br/><br/>More recently we developed some "shortcuts" for preparing hydrophobic surfaces that exhibit little contact angle hysteresis based on co-equilibration of inorganic substrates and reactive silicones. This work will be described and compared with the chemically more elegant methods. This co-equilibration chemistry led us in directions toward silicone synthesis and we are currently developing skills and interests in this arena.

Silicon and silicone chemistry with an eye toward surfaces

251st National Meeting (2016)

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