In chemistry and materials science, ultrahydrophobic surfaces are highly hydrophobic, i.e., extremely difficult to wet. The contact angles of a water droplet on an ultrahydrophobic material exceed 150°. This is also referred to as the lotus effect, after the superhydrophobic leaves of the lotus plant. A droplet striking these kinds of surfaces can fully rebound like an elastic ball. Interactions of bouncing drops can be further reduced using special superhydrophobic surfaces that promote symmetry breaking, pancake bouncing or waterbowl bouncing.
A drop on a lotus surface, with a contact angle of greater than 146°.
A test of super-hydrophobic paint.
Image: Unitary roughness structure versus hierarchical structure
In chemistry, hydrophobicity is the physical property of a molecule that is seemingly repelled from a mass of water. In contrast, hydrophiles are attracted to water.
Dew drop on a hydrophobic leaf surface
Water drops on the hydrophobic surface of grass
A water drop on a lotus plant leaf