Analysis of Wettability Characteristics in the Absence of the Electric Field and Under HVDC using Designed and Implemented an Experimental Platform for Contact Angle Measurement

In this study, the wettability characteristics of Poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) dielectric material which is used in high voltage applications and outdoor electrical applications in the presence and absence of the electric field was investigated. Saltwater droplets with a conductivity of 135.9 mS/cm were dropped onto the surface of a 5-mm thick PMMA dielectric material placed between two aluminum plane electrodes with a distance of 10 mm between them, and then 10 kV was applied between two aluminum electrodes. In the developed and implemented experimental platform, contact angle measurements were carried out using image processing techniques to interpret the wettability behavior of dielectric materials in the absence of the electric field and under HVDC. Wettability is one of the concepts used in the analysis of surface properties of materials and encountered in many engineering and science fields. Within the scope of this study, it is aimed to observe and analyze the correlation between the wettability characteristics, droplet shape, and contact angle under an electric field which has an important place under the topic of materials in science and engineering. Experimental results show that the electric field and the droplet liquid properties affect the contact angle and droplet shape. It was observed that the contact angle values decreased in the presence of the electric field and the apex of the droplet shape becomes more acute under the electric field.