Potential for Tunable Static and Dynamic Contact Angle Anisotropy on Gradient Microscale Patterned Topographies

Translationally symmetric topographies can be designed to induce anisotropy of static and dynamic contact angles. The validity of ignoring directionality of topography in contact angle characterization was evaluated using microscale patterned topographies. Seven patterned topographies comprising elongated discontinuous microfeatures oriented along parallel paths and one topography comprising ridges were fabricated in a poly(dimethyl siloxane) elastomer (PDMSe). The static contact angle, advancing contact angle, receding contact angle, contact angle hysteresis, and slip angle were measured using water on each surface at three in-plane perspectives, with respect to the feature orientation. Static and dynamic contact angle anisotropies were investigated on the topographies to evaluate the effect of discontinuities along the feature lengths on the anisotropy that has been shown on channels or ridges in previous reports. Discontinuous feature topographies exhibited a statistically significant anisotropy of 2°−6° between the perpendicular and parallel directions, with respect to the static and dynamic contact angles. The ridges topography exhibited much larger 5°−42° anisotropy in the contact angles. The discontinuities along the feature lengths greatly reduced, but did not eliminate, the anisotropies compared to the ridges. This evidence of contact angle anisotropy indicates a need to identify the orientation of topography, in relation to contact angle measurements. It also implies a need to consider directionality in the design of microfluidic devices and self-cleaning surfaces.