Hu, Hsuan-Ming, Watson, Jolanta A., Cribb, Bronwen W., and Watson, Gregory S. (2011) Fouling of nanostructured insect cuticle: adhesion of natural and artificial contaminants. Biofouling, 27 (10). pp. 1125-1137.

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Abstract

The adhesional properties of contaminating particles of scales of various lengths were investigated for a wide range of micro- and nanostructured insect wing cuticles. The contaminating particles consisted of artificial hydrophilic (silica) and spherical hydrophobic (C18) particles, and natural pollen grains. Insect wing cuticle architectures with an open micro-/nanostructure framework demonstrated topographies for minimising solid–solid and solid–liquid contact areas. Such structuring of the wing membranes allows for a variety of removal mechanisms to contend with particle contact, such as wind and self-cleaning droplet interactions. Cuticles exhibiting high contact angles showed considerably lower particle adhesional forces than more hydrophilic insect surfaces. Values as low as 3 nN were recorded in air for silica of 28 nm in diameter and <25 nN for silica particles 30 μm in diameter. A similar adhesional trend was also observed for contact with pollen particles

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