Surface Wettability Prediction Using Image Analysis and an Artificial Neural Network

Langmuir. 2022 Jun 14;38(23):7208-7217. doi: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c00539. Epub 2022 Jun 3.

Abstract

In this study, a wettability-predicting method that uses an artificial neural network (ANN) by learning from digital images of the actual surface structures was developed. Polyester film surfaces were treated with oxygen plasma to realize various nanostructured surfaces. Surface structural characteristics from SEM images were quantified in a multifaceted way using a box-counting algorithm, a gray-level co-occurrence matrix algorithm, and binary image analysis. An ANN model that can predict wettability from surface structures was developed using the quantified surface structure and the resulting wettability as learning data. Furthermore, a surface with an optimal nanostructure to achieve superhydrophobicity was suggested by considering extracted surface structural parameters that significantly affect the surface wettability.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms*
  • Neural Networks, Computer*
  • Wettability