Wettability Analysis of 3D Printed Bio-Inspired Structures Utilizing Vatphotopolymerization Additive Technique

Bio-inspired structures mimic biological forms and functions found in nature, applied in engineering and architecture. Vat photopolymerization (VPP)-based additive manufacturing replicates these designs by curing the photopolymer layer by layer, allowing precise fabrication of intricate bio-inspired structures with enhanced functionality and performance. In this study, the bio-inspired structures were fabricated using VPP, and their wetting characteristics were investigated. Utilizing VPP technique, various intricate designs (spherical, conical, cylindrical, and cuboidal shapes) were printed and subsequently analyzed for their wettability using a Drop Shape Analyzer setup. The impact of dimensional parameters on the surfaces’ functional characteristics regarding wetting behavior was analyzed. Most of the fabricated designs exhibited a degree of hydrophobicity, typically around 90 ± 2 degrees. Adjusting the height and spacing between structures resulted in higher levels of hydrophobicity. Conversely, hydrophilic nature was observed in cases with smaller height and spacing. Furthermore, it explores transitioning from hydrophilic to hydrophobic properties via parameter adjustments.