Hydrophobic, hydrophilic
(Redirected from Hygroscopic)
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hydrophobic[1] materials
- literally means are 'water-fearing',
- practically means something that rejects water - do not dissolve, tend not to be wetted
- e.g. a waterproof jacket (due to specific treatment), various bird feathers, some leaves
ultrahydrophobic
- means a more unusual case of hydrophoby,
- and usually refers to cases where the effect is strong enough for to bead up visibly, and roll off more quickly.
hydrophilic[2] materials are 'water-loving'
- tend to be wetted by water on contact
- (technically these are distinct concepts, but there are few examples of hydrophilic things that resist wetting for long)
- note that that doesn't necessarily mean it is water-soluble
hygroscopic[3] refers to materials that can absorb/adsorb water and take it inside
- usually meaning it can pull water from the air (so relates to to humidity, not just contact with water)
- Note hygro (moisure) vs. hydro (water) -- not everything hydrophilic is also hygroscopic, but hygroscopic also means hydrophilic.
- though note that due to the variation of hydrophilic-and-soluble versus hydrophilic-and-not-soluble