Dataset supporting journal publication 'Towards accurate evaluation of pressure-induced Cassie-to-Wenzel wetting transition on superhydrophobic surfaces'

We investigated the Cassie-to-Wenzel wetting transition on superhydrophobic surfaces by compressing a droplet between two interfaces, monitoring the applied force, and simultaneously capturing the droplet shape using backlit imaging. Superhydrophobic surfaces were fabricated by etching micropillars into a silicon substrate and applying a low-surface-energy monolayer coating via chemical vapor deposition. This dataset contains experimentally measured time-dependent forces and corresponding images. The data were acquired using a strain gauge load cell connected to a 24-bit data acquisition system and an optical camera with a macro lens. Droplet compression was controlled with a linear stage driven by a piezoelectric inertia drive. The measurements were conducted at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia, between August 28 and September 24, 2024. This dataset can be used to calculate the Laplace pressure within the droplet, thereby determining the force exerted by the droplet on the surface. These calculations can be compared with the experimentally measured forces, providing valuable insights into the wetting transition mechanism.