Les surfaces texturées sont devenues, ces dernières années, des substrats de choix pour de nombreuses applications. En effet, la texturation des surfaces, de l'échelle nanométrique à l'échelle microscopique, permet d'accroître les propriétés d'adhérence ou de renforcer la résistance mécanique intrinsèque. Dans ce travail de thèse nous proposons une étude sur l'influence des textures chimiques sur le comportement tribologique, adhésif et sur la mouillabilité des substrats. Dans le premier chapitre, on propose une stratégie de micro-texturation des surfaces basées sur la technique de microcontact-printing et le greffage de chaînes de polymères de géométries/formes contrôlées. En outre, on a notamment étudié de manière approfondie la mouillabilité des surfaces texturées afin de comprendre les effets de diminution de taille des textures sur le comportement adhésif. Dans les expériences d'adhésion et frottement, un dispositif de type JKR (pour Johnson, Kendall et Roberts), une machine de frottement et une FFM ont été utilisés permettant d'observer le contact entre une sphère élastique et une pointe rigide avec un plan texturé tout en contrôlant la force entre les surfaces. En outre l'utilisation de ces différentes approches ne nous a pas finalement donné des explications satisfaisantes sur les mécanismes agissant sur les phénomènes interfaciaux. De ce fait, l'utilisation du démouillage de films minces de PS et de PDMS sur des surfaces texturées nous as permis de suivre l'évolution de l'instabilité du bourrelet à l'interface. Enfin, dans le dernier chapitre, nous avons étudier les différents aspects prédominants des phénomènes interfaciaux sur des surfaces homogènes / Micro and Nanoscale surface patterns are considered as potential templates and building blocks for Micro/nanotechnology. As for materials in general, these micro /nano-scale surface structures have been of increasing research interest in recent years, due to their unique properties. They are expected to exhibit novel and significantly improved physical, chemical, mechanical and other properties, as well as to offer opportunities for manifestation of new phenomena and processes. In the present PhD work, we propose a multiple scale analysis of the adhesion, friction and wetting behaviors for different patterned interfaces. In a first chapter, we developed a general methodology to design well-defined surfaces combining micro-contact printing (µCP), self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) and polymer grafting techniques. Then we study the wettability of a patterned solid surface. Where, the stick-slip regime, and the effect of the patterning at the mesoscale was investigated. Furthermore, we concentrate on the dependence of adhesion and friction between a polymer and a rigid tip on the composition of the patterned substrates using a JKR, FFM and friction machines. Intriguingly, the uses of these approaches did not provide us with a clear answer to our bewilderment. Therefore, in the third chapter, we adopted the approach of the dewetting of thin polymer film on top of patterned surfaces. We study the impact of the solid/liquid boundary condition on the evolution of the rim instability during the course of dewetting. The last chapter details the investigation of the predominant aspect between the chemistry introduced on the surface and the mechanical proprieties of the substrate

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Wood is a renewable resource and versatile material used in tasks ranging from tools and furniture to advanced engineering structures. Although wood is light, mechanically robust, environmentally friendly, and abundant, some inherent properties of wood, such as degradation due to moisture and UV radiation from sunlight, are less desirable for extended service life and dimensional stability. In this dissertation, a novel surface modification of wood is explored by depositing nano-sized titania particles on wood veneers and cross-laminated timber (CLT) blocks by liquid-precursor flame spray pyrolysis to confer reversible wettability switching and enhanced durability to UV irradiation. The reaction between a flame source and a titanium precursor in isopropyl alcohol under controlled air pressure created a micrometer-scale thin TiO2 coating on wood that turns the treated wood superhydrophobic with a water contact angle (WCA) of >=150°. Morphological studies suggest the coating is comprised of sub-100 nm TiO2 individual and aggregated particles, creating a very porous microstructure. The coating consists of TiO2 rich in the anatase phase (>60%) with an average crystal size of 18 and 32 nm for the anatase and rutile phases, respectively. The wettability switching characteristics of the surface of TiO2-wood veneers from superhydrophobicity to superhydrophilicity (WCA ~0°) and again back to superhydrophobicity are examined through UV exposure (0.0032 W/m2), WCA measurements, and vacuum drying at ~0.14 mbar. The color and gloss spectrometry results of the TiO2-treated CLT samples indicate that the coating offered better resistance to discoloration and gloss change than the uncoated samples during the 8-week accelerated weathering conditions. The data shows that the FSP-treated CLT samples were more than two times more effective in preventing discoloration and changes in natural luster, as evidenced by the significant differences in L*, a*, b*, and gloss values. Moreover, the FSP treatment might have played a role in preventing weathering defects, such as splits and cracks. In addition, the FSP-treated CLT specimens were able to reduce variability in the samples more effectively than the control group. Overall, the findings of the study indicate that liquid-precursor FSP has the potential to serve as a facile, economically viable, and less energy-intensive approach to modify wooden surfaces for improved hydrophobicity, as well as to provide shielding against the deteriorating impacts of UV radiation and moisture exposure. Keywords: wood modification, flame spray pyrolysis, titania coating, superhydrophobic coating, particle deposition, wettability switching

<p>The management of gray mold, caused by the fungus <em>Botrytis cinerea</em>, on ornamental plants relies heavily on fungicide applications. To improve fungicide efficacy, the manipulation of nozzle type, spray volume, and pressure influence droplet size (µm) and density (droplets/cm2) on the leaf’s surface. However, leaf wettability dictates how well the application droplets adhere and spread across the surface. When leaf surfaces are waxy (hydrophobic) or hairy (tomentose), droplets fail to adhere, impacting fungicide sorption.</p> <p>The goal of this research was to evaluate how the interaction of droplet density and leaf wettability impact the efficacy of chemical and biological fungicides against <em>Botrytis cinerea</em>. Leaf surfaces vary between species, within species, leaf age, and leaf sides (abaxial or adaxial). Hydrophobic leaf surfaces influence fungicide efficacy by reducing fungicide droplet spread compared to the wettable and hydrophilic leaf surfaces. The presence of trichomes on the leaf surface can inhibit droplets from reaching the surface.</p> <p>To quantify droplet density, a fine and coarse spray of fungicide treatments was applied with a yellow fluorescent dye. After application, <em>Begonia</em> x <em>hybrida</em> ‘Dragon wing’ leaves were placed on black, blackout curtains below a blacklight. Images were analyzed by ImageJ, using an image processing method. The number of lesions, disease incidence, were counted to observe fungicide efficacy. Results show there was no interaction between the actual droplet density within treatments applied with fine and coarse sprays. However, the interaction between spray type (fine and coarse) and treatments can have a significant effect on disease incidence. Disease incidence was significantly different between the systemic and contact fungicides for fine and coarse sprays. However, the systemic fungicide treatment had the highest disease incidence compared to the contact fungicide.</p> <p>To assess leaf wettability impact on fungicide efficacy, five <em>Begonia </em>species (<em>B. scharffii, B. erythrophylla, B. </em>x<em> hybrida ‘</em>Dragon Wing’<em>, B. epipsila, and B. goldingiana</em>) were used based on their observed leaf surface type. A contact angle goniometer was used to take pictures of a droplet on <em>Begonia</em> leaf surfaces. The quantification of the leaf surface took place by using the ImageJ program ‘Drop-Snake’ within the plugin ‘Drop Analysis’. The number of lesions, an indicator of disease incidence, were counted to observe fungicide efficacy. Results showed the contact angles were different between the <em>Begonia</em> species. There was a significant interaction between the <em>Begonia</em> species and treatments, where <em>Begonia</em> ‘hairy’ and ‘waxy’ leaf surfaces can influence fungicide efficacy. However, there was no significance for the interaction between <em>Begonia</em> species’ contact angles and treatments.</p> <p>These studies advance our understanding of how droplet density and leaf surfaces influence fungicide efficacy, thus improving our ability to manage <em>Botrytis</em> for diverse ornamental plants. </p>

M. Tech. (Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technology), Vaal University of Technology. / Presently, the current membrane technologies used in oil/water separation are inefficient with poor controllability and stability during oil/water separation. The has led to the current problem of membrane fouling and degradation during oil/water separation. Several approaches have been used to modify or design a better wettable surface with limited success since the current problem of membrane fouling is persisting. It is, therefore, necessary for scientists, engineers, and researchers to come up with a new membrane technology that will be more efficient with stable wettability and controllability during oil/water separation. Membranes are made up of nanoparticles on their surface, which are both random in nature. Furthermore, the collection of membrane particles to form mesh membranes are made of pores with further ransom spatial distribution. Thus, it was necessary to use the tools of stochastic processes to theoretically characterize these parameters. These parameters affect both internal and external factors as well as characteristics of random membrane particle and pores on wettability like surface tension and surface energy were established in the current project. Design and production of the membrane material according to established relationships was by both low and high-pressure spay jet coating in a controlled laboratory environment, and microscopic characterization performed using SEM. TEM, EDS, statistical analysis, and Image J particle analyzer. The spread, orientation, morphology, spatial distribution, inter-separation distances, surface roughness, surface smoothness, contact angles, surface density of the particle, mean size of the coated nanoparticle on the membrane surface after different coating rounds were analyzed so as to establish conditions for optimal wettability. The testing of produced membranes under the application of external and internal factors was done. A centrifugal pump was used to pump contaminated oil and water mixture through the membrane under a steady flow rate of 10 L/s with a gauge pressure of 180 kPa at room temperature conditions. The membrane materials from different coating rounds were tested for their abilities to produce pure collected water or oil particles in the collected water. The separated water was analyzed using oil and grease analysis US EPA method 1664B with the SPE-DEX 1000 oil and grease system. As revealed theoretically and validated experimentally, it was found that the random natures of nanoparticle size, the spatial distribution of membrane channels, and their morphology have impacts on surface energy-driven separability of oil and water mixture. It was also observed that the scattering of nanoparticles on the membrane surface during coating lowered surface energy, which enhanced oil/water separation. It was also revealed that there is an optimal nanoparticle size, scattering, morphology, and spatial distribution of membrane channels that offer better separation of water from oil. From the microscopy analysis, different microstructures were revealed for glass, ceramics, and sediment during LP and HP coating. The microstructure characterization showed different surface densities of nanoparticles, mean particle sizes, surface roughness or smoothness, and nanoparticles inter-separation distances. It was also revealed that the materials, which were more stable and efficient with more controlled wettability were glass, sediment, and ceramic HP 3rd rounds of coating. Clusters were observed on the membrane surface during HP and LP coating rounds with more clusters observed in LP coating when compared with HP coating. These clusters increased surface energy, which negatively affected oil/water separation. It was concluded that to improved the wettability surface. membrane clusters must be minimized during coating rounds. This thesis contributed new knowledge to existing body knowledge of membrane technology used in oil/water separation in a number of ways by: (1) Designing a new membrane surface with a more controlled, efficient, and stable wettability process during oil/water separation. (2) Applying the logic of surface energy-driven separability, which has not been previously used extensively to study membrane wettability. (3) Establishing a model for the optimal membrane pore sizes that offer optimal membrane wettability during oil/water separation. (4) Establishing a model for optimal nanoparticle coating that offers optimal membrane wettability during oil /water separation. (5) A great attempt was made in characterizing nanoparticle surface densities, spread, particle coating, and nanoparticles intensity on a wettable membrane surface.

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