Dissolving Particles in Oil (but Water resistant)

[DolanStyle]

TL;DR

Looking for particles that are dissolvable in a droplet of water but are unaffected by water.

Hello Everybody,

I have a superoleophobic surfaces which shows high contact angle for Water, Oil, Hexadecane...

I am looking for a kind of particles which are attached to the surface and once I touch them with a droplet of oil are dissolving in that oil droplet. If I then remove the droplet, the particle is gone. When I do the same with a droplet of water I want the particle to remain attached to the surface.

This particle should mimic some kind of dirt and I want to be able to clean the surface with dipping an oil droplet on it and then removing it.

My surface has holes with a diameter of 200nm, so the particles should not penetrate these holes.
When using dust or sand I am able to clean the surface with Oil and Water by letting the dirt stick to the droplet surface. However I want to clean the surface by dissolving the particle in the oil.

Every support is greatly appreciated.

 

[TeethWhitener]

TL;DR Summary: Looking for particles that are dissolvable in a droplet of water but are unaffected by water.

Do you mean dissolvable in a droplet of oil?

What size particle?

If you're looking for a solid that dissolves easily in oil but not water, wax comes to mind as something cheap to try.

 

[DolanStyle]

Thanks for your reply. Yes dissolvable in a droplet of oil.

Particle size should be bigger than 200nm.

I will try wax today thanks.

 

[DolanStyle]

I tried different types of wax but they only dissolve when increasing the temperature but I am working at room temperature. I also am not able to find a solution through google. Is it a difficutl topic within chemistry to dissolve some solid in one oil droplet?

I am a mechanical Engineer so I am not so familiar with chemistry :(

 

[Rive]

Why do you need it dissolved? You also specify the goal as 'This particle should mimic some kind of dirt and I want to be able to clean the surface with dipping an oil droplet on it and then removing it.' which does not includes requirements for solubility, and I think sticking with only that may make things easier.

 

[TeethWhitener]

I'm not sure what oil you're using. They aren't all equal. That said, most oils are made up of long chain hydrocarbons and have similar solvent properties to shorter chain hydrocarbons. So waxes will probably dissolve in them given enough time. Other things to try are species that easily dissolve in hexanes or toluene. Things like naphthalene, or even animal fat, butter, or cholesterol.

 

[DolanStyle]

Why do you need it dissolved?

I am looking for something that can be cleaned when using oil but not water. Most of the substances I tried are also cleanable with water.

I'm not sure what oil you're using.

I am flexible regarding the type of oil I`m using. Thanks for your suggestions. I will try

 

[Tom.G]

Since you have not put any restrictions on either the type of particles or the oil, note that many sticky adhesives (as on sticky tape) are soluble in vegetable oil.

Works great for removing the residue left on a surface by old tape.

 

[TonyStewart]

A similar problem is removing dirt from hands with hydrocarbon based residues. I believe it is "Lanolin"-based hand wash that is used to dissolve this when water does not. But scrubbing is necessary.

This is unlikely useful for you, but may lead you to think of Hydrocarbon-based contaminants like grease, asphalt, printer’s ink or petroleum products.

 

[symbolipoint]

I tried different types of wax but they only dissolve when increasing the temperature but I am working at room temperature. I also am not able to find a solution through google. Is it a difficutl topic within chemistry to dissolve some solid in one oil droplet?

I am a mechanical Engineer so I am not so familiar with chemistry :(

Description seems like wax emulsion. Unsure - dispersed uniformly in oil?

 

[symbolipoint]

I am looking for something that can be cleaned when using oil but not water. Most of the substances I tried are also cleanable with water.

Paste wax? The finished wax after applied on the surface to be coated should be resistant to water.

 

[TonyStewart]

coconut oil melts at skin temperature.