Preface
David G. Waugh
It gives me great pleasure to present the inaugural issue of a new scholarly journal, The International Journal of Wettability Science and Technology (IJWST). This journal is published by Old City Publishing and is devoted to the field of wettability science, associated technologies and applications.
The study of wettability science and associated technologies has grown exponentially over the last few years owed to its growing importance in many sectors of science and industry. This is owed to the fact that there is now a distinct realization that wettability characteristics play a limiting role for adhesion in materials science. On account of the importance of wettability science, the influential papers of Wenzel and Cassie and Baxter, published in 1936 and 1944 respectively, on superhydrophobic surfaces have recently become two of the top 15 pieces of work to be cited in science. This has led many scientists to make major contributions to areas such as superhydrophobicity, superhydrophilicity, liquid/solid interactions and the wetting behaviour of various material types.
With the resurgence of wettability science, The International Journal of Wettability Science and Technology covers the micro- and nano-surface engineering of materials for the modification of the wettability characteristics, such as contact angle and surface energy parameters, along with recent advances in wettability science and technology. Owing to the importance and need for studies of wettability science, this journal provides a platform for a broad, coordinated, multi-disciplinary approach towards advancing the science and making inroads into developing future theories and technologies pertaining to wettability.
This first issue of The International Journal of Wettability Science and Technology (IJWST) contains 5 manuscripts. These excellent pieces of work cover areas of wettability science such as:
- Liquid slippage in carbon nanotubes;
- The re-evaluation of wetting theory;
- Self-cleaning effects in wettability science;
- Textured surfaces which elicit isotropic wetting that give rise to anisotropic
spreading; - Mixed-state wetting and wetting transitions and;
- Wettability characteristics modification through surface engineering.
The support I have had from the Editorial Board and our publishers, Old City Publishing, has been fantastic. On account of this, I am extremely thankful to everybody within this community who has supported the development and publication of this new journal – The International Journal of Wettability Science and Technology (IJWST). A special mention and thank you should also be reserved for Dr Kash Mittal and Dr Robert Lacombe whose support from the start, and assistance with putting our truly international Editorial Board together, enabled me to ensure that we have a journal of high quality, setting the correct tone of the journal for future issues.
I believe that this initial collection of high quality manuscripts will be a valuable resource for The International Journal of Wettability Science and Technology (IJWST) readers and I am certain that it will stimulate further research into the vibrant field of wettability science and associated technologies.
Dr. David G. Waugh
Coventry University, UK