Study of Self-rewetting Fluid Applied to a PTFE Wick

This study applied butanol aqueous solution to form self-rewetting fluid to LHP with a PTFE wick. Porous PTFE structure advantages including low sintering temperature and resistant to oxidation; however, due to PTFE's hydrophobic nature, with water as working fluid, for example, it has been observed that PTFE cannot effectively pump the working fluid by capillary action. In this paper, self-rewetting fluid ( butanol aqueous solution) was used to address the hydrophobic nature of PTFE, allowing the working fluid to successfully flow through the PTFE wick by capillary forces. 0 similar to 4% butanol aqueous solutions were tested for effectiveness and ease in allowing the working fluid to flow through the wick. Experimental results showed that, with 4% butanol aqueous solution, this self-rewetting fluid best increased the wettability of PTFE wick, successfully flowing through the capillary structure and demonstrating greater potential for PTFE to be adopted as LHP wick material.