This project substantially increased the efficiency of mechanical oil spill recovery equipment by replacing traditional recovery unit materials with polymetric materials that have the highest affinity for oil and are specifically tailored to collect oil from water surfaces. The specific objectives of this research proposal were to determine; The magnitude of the physical processes that govern adhesion of oil to polymetric materials;
The material(s) that have the greatest affinity for different types of oils at various weathering degrees;
The optimum shape and roughness (surface pattern) of the recovery surface; and
The optimum contact time between oil and the recovery surface (rotation speed of the device).
Research experiments were conducted that involve the study of oil affinity and adhesion on polymetric surfaces of various properties and shapes. The Wilhelmy plate technique (Cahn Radian 315) was used to measure the dynamic contact angle, surface tension, surface free energy, surface polarity and amount of adhered oil. Experiments were performed at 0 C and 15 C to simulate Arctic and Temperate regions.
Progress