Effect of surface charge on hydrophobicity levels of insulating materials

Abstract
A correlation between the hydrophobic characteristics and accumulation of static charge on several insulating surfaces (ceramic and non-ceramic) is studied. Although numerous experimental studies on the loss and recovery of hydrophobicity on insulator surfaces have been carried out, no efforts for establishing a correlation between such hydrophobic properties and the presence of surface charge have yet been made, especially when attention is paid to ceramic surfaces. This experiment consists of simultaneous measurements of surface charge decay and contact angle recovery against time on samples previously exposed to corona impingement; a comparison between charge decay and hydrophobicity recovery trends is then made. From the data obtained, a lowering of the original hydrophobicity level for each material as a consequence of surface charge accumulation is identified. The decay of surface charge and the corresponding recovery of the initial hydrophobic characteristics with time are observed. Loss and recovery of hydrophobicity resulting from surface charging and charge decay, respectively, are identified as mechanisms occurring not only on polymeric surfaces, but also on ceramic ones. From a number of laboratory studies, it has been confirmed and extensively reported by several researchers that surface charging of insulators due to electrical activity (partial discharging) can be achieved. Based on the above, as well as on the results obtained from this experimental work, surface charging of insulators is a phenomenon which may occur under realistic operational conditions, and is therefore proposed as a factor responsible for the loss of the initial highly hydrophobic characteristics of polymeric insulators and coatings, in addition to other well established mechanisms.