Insights into the Multilevel Structural Characterization and Adsorption Mechanism of Sinogastromyzon szechuanensis Sucker on the Rough Surface

Abstract

The present study investigates the adsorption performance and adsorption mechanism of Sinogastromyzon szechuanensis on different rough surfaces. The different positions of the sucker surface of Sinogastromyzon szechuanensis were observed by adopting the stereomicroscope and SEM. The observed results showed that the sucker of Sinogastromyzonszechuanensis had a multilevel structure of villi and groove. The anterior and posterior of Sinogastromyzonszechuanensis had different microscopic morphologies. The surface roughness of the adsorption substrate ranged from 7 μm to 188 μm. Adsorption strength of Sinogastromyzonszechuanensis and the conventional sucker on different rough surfaces were measured by a purposely designed device. The results showed that the back of Sinogastromyzonszechuanensis mainly provided the adsorption strength. The adsorption strength of the conventional sucker gradually decreased with surface roughness increasing, but the adsorption strength of Sinogastromyzon szechuanensis had not changed significantly. Based on the experimental results, the adsorption mechanism of Sinogastromyzonszechuanensis on the surface with different roughness was analyzed by the spectral function. The Sinogastromyzonszechuanensis sucker with a multilevel structure worked well on the rough surface, which led to Sinogastromyzonszechuanensis with a good sealing on the rough surface. The present work could help to develop a new type of sucker with effective adsorption performance on a rough surface to meet the needs of the engineering field.

Keywords: Sinogastromyzon szechuanensis; adsorption; mechanism analysis; multilevel structure; spectral function; sucker.

Figure 1

Sinogastromyzonszechuanensis adsorbed on the glass slide.

Figure 2

The fabricated procession of the adsorption substrate with a rough surface.

Figure 3

Adsorption substrates with rough surfaces.

Figure 4

The roughness of the adsorption substrate surface.

Figure 5

Adsorption force test device: (a) a pulling machine to measure the adsorption force of Sinogastromyzon szechuanensis; (b) the specimen placed diagram. 1. Base; 2. silicone substrate with a rough surface; 3. square aluminum alloy plate; 4. bolts; 5. sample; 6. steel needle; and 7. force sensor.

Figure 6

Macrostructural morphology of the adsorption side of Sinogastromyzon szechuanensis, observed with stereomicroscope: (a) photograph shown the pelvic view of the Sinogastromyzon szechuanensis; (b) pectoral fins; (c) the intersection of the pectoral fins and the pelvic fins; (d) the pelvic fins; and (e) the morphology of the fin of the Sinogastromyzon szechuanensis.

Figure 7

Microstructural characterization of the Sinogastromyzon szechuanensis, observed with SEM: (a) the papillae distributed on the longitudinal ribs of the pectoral fins; (b) the morphology of the pelvic fins; (c) a layer of densely distributed trichomes on the surface of the pelvic fin; (d) the magnification of the papillae in (a); (e) the trichome covered the longitudinal ribs surface of the pelvic fins; (f) the magnification of the trichome in (e).

Figure 8

The adsorption strength of Sinogastromyzon szechuanensis on different rough surfaces. Notice: The adsorption strength of the normal sucker on the surface with roughness of 100 μm and 188 μm was 0 kPa.

Figure 9

Influence of different locations of Sinogastromyzon szechuanensis on the adsorption force. Notice: Force of the Sinogastromyzon szechuanensis without fins on the smooth substrate was 0 N.

Figure 10

Illustration of the effect of single-stage and multistage structures on the adsorption performance of the Sinogastromyzon szechuanensis: (a) trichomes in a single-level structure; (b) trichomes in a multi-levels structure. l representation of the length of the trichome; e representation of the gap between the trichome and the surface.