Meeting Abstract
The Spanish moss (Tillandsia Usneoides) is an epiphytic, bromeliad that uptakes water and fog from the atmosphere. The outer epidermis surface of the Tillandsia is coated with wing-shaped trichomes that when wet bend downwards, creating a superhydrophilic film of water between the epidermis and the trichome that flows in a single direction. In this study, the Tillandsia Usneoides trichome wing structure was investigated for biologically inspired fluid transport applications. We also preformed relative humidity experiments of the Tillandsia with and without trichomes. These experiments demonstrated that Tillandsia with removed trichomes increased relative humidity 22.7% more than that of the intact Tillandsia. The Tillandsia’s trichomes also conserve 19.7% more of its total mass within a 24-hour period, suggesting increased water retention for Tillandsia with trichomes. Through bio-inspiration from the Tillandsia Usneoides’ unique trichome structure, a bio-mimicking mechanism using hydrogels is suggested. Biomimicry of the Tillandsia can be valuable for applications requiring fluid spreading and retention, such as systems that require constant lubrication.
