Scientia et Technica Año XXVIII, Vol.30, No. 01, enero-marzo de 2025. Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira. ISSN 0122-1701 y ISSN-e: 2344-7214
7
Abstract—One of society's priority needs is acquiring fresh
water due to high contamination levels and limited access in areas
where this valuable resource is scarce. Non-traditional methods of
water acquisition, such as fog catcher systems, are increasingly
relevant because of their low cost and versatility. These systems
use collection meshes to condense fog microdroplets. The water
then undergoes filtration, adsorption, and disinfection processes to
ensure its potability. Unfortunately, the materials commonly used
in fog catcher meshes are synthetic, making them resistant to
degradation. Consequently, natural fibers present a viable
alternative for their replacement. However, the hydrophobicity of
natural fibers is low, which results in limited water capture. This
necessitates the development of new solutions, such as coatings, to
enhance water capture efficiency. This article presents an
evaluation of various polymeric coatings applied to natural fique
fiber meshes installed in fog catchers, focusing on the impact of
these coatings on water capture efficiency. Additionally, a
mechanical and morphological characterization of the coated
meshes was performed to assess their mechanical properties and
adhesion. Mechanical characterization was conducted using
tensile testing, which revealed improved properties in the epoxy-
coated fique mesh system. Morphological analysis, using scanning
electron microscopy, showed better adhesion between the epoxy
and polyester resins and the natural fiber. Water capture tests
conducted both in the field and in the laboratory demonstrated
that the fique-epoxy coating is the most effective, increasing water
uptake by 124.4% compared to uncoated fique fiber.
Index Terms— Coatings, Composite, Fique, Fog catchers, Natural
fiber, Water capture.
Resumen—Una de las necesidades prioritarias de la sociedad es
la adquisición de agua dulce debido a los altos niveles de
contaminación y al acceso limitado en zonas donde este valioso
recurso escasea. Los métodos no tradicionales de obtención de
agua, como los sistemas atrapanieblas, son cada vez más relevantes
por su bajo coste y versatilidad. Estos sistemas usan mallas
This manuscript was submitted on January 22, 2025. Accepted on March 15,
2025. And published on March 31, 2025. This research work was funded by
the Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana
S. Gómez S. Author is with the Mechanical Engineering Department,
Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, Km 7 autopista via Piedecuesta,
Floridablanca, Santander, Colombia, (e-mail: sergio.gomezs@upb.edu.co)
E. Cordoba T. Author is with the Mechanical Engineering Department,
Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana Km 7 autopista via Piedecuesta,
Floridablanca, Santander, Colombia, (e-mail: edwin.cordoba@upb.edu.co)
colectoras para condensar microgotas de niebla. Luego, el agua
pasa por filtración, adsorción y desinfección para asegurar su
potabilidad.
Lamentablemente, los materiales utilizados habitualmente en las
mallas de los atrapanieblas son sintéticos, lo que los hace
resistentes a la degradación. En consecuencia, las fibras naturales
presentan una alternativa viable para su sustitución. Sin embargo,
la hidrofobicidad de las fibras naturales es baja, lo que se traduce
en una captura de agua limitada. Esto hace necesario el desarrollo
de nuevas soluciones, como los recubrimientos, para mejorar la
eficacia de la captura de agua. Este artículo presenta una
evaluación de varios recubrimientos poliméricos aplicados a
mallas de fibra de fique natural instaladas en atrapanieblas,
centrándose en el impacto de estos recubrimientos en la eficiencia
de captura de agua. Además, se realizó una caracterización
mecánica y morfológica de las mallas recubiertas para evaluar sus
propiedades mecánicas y su adherencia. La caracterización
mecánica se llevó a cabo mediante ensayos de tracción, que
revelaron una mejora de las propiedades en el sistema de malla de
fique recubierto de epoxi. El análisis morfológico, mediante
microscopía electrónica de barrido, mostró una mejor adherencia
entre las resinas epoxi y de poliéster y la fibra natural. Las pruebas
de captación de agua realizadas tanto en el campo como en el
laboratorio demostraron que el recubrimiento de fique-epoxi es el
más eficaz, ya que aumenta la captación de agua en un 124,4% en
comparación con la fibra de fique sin recubrir.
Palabras claves— Atrapanieblas, Captación de agua,
Compuestos, Fibra natural, Fique, Recubrimientos.
I. INTRODUCTION
O
ne of the current challenges facing humanity is the availability
of clean freshwater, due to the contamination of various water
sources as a result of economic expansion, industrial
development, and climate change. This contamination affects the
accessibility of water for essential uses such as drinking, hygiene, and
food security, directly impacting public health [1].
Of various water sources as a result of economic expansion,
industrial development, and climate change.
This contamination affects the accessibility of water for
essential uses such as drinking, hygiene, and food security,
directly impacting public health [1].
Evaluation of polymeric coatings applied to a natural
fique fiber mesh of a water harvesting fog catcher
system
Evaluación de recubrimientos poliméricos para malla de fibra natural de fique en sistema
atrapa nieblas para la captación de agua.
S. Gómez-Suarez ; E. Córdoba-Tuta
DOI: https://doi.org/10.22517/23447214.25756
Scientific and technological research paper
Scientia et Technica Año XXVIII, Vol. 30, No. 01, enero-marzo de 2025. Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira
8
In the world, fresh water represents 3% of the existing total,
making it difficult to obtain since 70% of it is present in the
form of glaciers and snow in high mountains [2]. In this
context, new ways of obtaining fresh water that are practical
and at low cost have been explored.
Among the emerging non-traditional methods of water
acquisition, the most prominent are rainwater harvesting,
groundwater collection, desalination, and atmospheric water
recovery, with the latter being the most significant due to its
low cost and versatility [3].
The system commonly used to capture water from the air is
known as fog catcher, which provides an accessible water
supply at high altitudes [4]. Its operation consists of the
condensation of atmospheric water vapor that is present in the
air, concentrating it into drops of liquid water, known as dew
[5].
Fog catchers are generally made of polypropylene or
polyethylene meshes known as Raschel meshes. This material
is used due to its high hydrophobicity, this being one of the most
important parameters in the efficiency of this type of system
[6], together with its high commercial availability, low price
and good mechanical behavior [7].
The latest research in this type of devices is focused on the
development of bio-inspired designs for increased water
capture and the development of new materials [8].
Unfortunately, polypropylene and polyethylene are materials of
synthetic origin and therefore remain inert to degradation,
which leads to their accumulation creating serious
environmental problems [9].
A material that can replace the synthetic fibers that make up
the meshes of conventional collectors are natural fibers, since
they have high mechanical resistance, high rigidity, low density
and high availability at a low cost. In addition to the above,
production requires little energy, is carried out with low
emission of toxic fumes and with less abrasive impact on the
processing equipment [10] [11].
However, the problem with natural fibers to be applied in fog
catcher systems is that they have a hydrophilic nature,
absorbing the water present in the air without allowing it to be
used, and are further degraded by microorganisms and sunlight
[12].
In order to increase the efficiency of fog catchers, research
has focused on the use of surface coatings that increase the
hydrophobicity of the systems, mainly applied to fibers made
of synthetic materials [13] [14]. Additionally, research is
limited to comparisons of different synthetic textile meshes and
fog catchers in the laboratory or in the field [15]. However,
there is not enough information on studies where an application
in fog-catching systems with natural fibers and coatings is
performed.
Fique fiber is extracted from the leaves of the plant of the
same name. It is a resistant and versatile material that is grown
mainly in Colombia, Ecuador and Mexico. It belongs to the
agavaceae family, this fiber has a length of 1.5 to 2 meters and
is known for its hardness. Traditionally, it is used to make ropes
and sacks. In addition, fique is ideal for packing coffee for
export due to its ability to preserve freshness. In a more
innovative approach, yarns and textile bases have been
developed from fique fiber, offering a sustainable alternative to
traditional fibers and contributing to the economic development
of rural communities in Latin America [16].
It is for this reason that in this article the evaluation of different
polymeric coatings applied on a natural fiber mesh of fique
installed in a fog catcher was carried out, knowing the influence
of the use of these coatings on the level of water capture in the
laboratory and in the field. Additionally, a mechanical
characterization was carried out to know the resistance to
external forces that can be caused by the environment and a
morphological characterization was also carried out to know the
adhesion of the coating with the natural fiber. Although natural
fibres such as fique represent a sustainable alternative to
synthetic fabrics due to their renewable and biodegradable
nature, they require the application of a polymer coating to
improve their hydrophobic properties. Although this coating,
which is of synthetic origin, reduces their degradability, the
controlled integration of this material on a natural and
biodegradable fibre allows a significant reduction in the amount
of polymer used compared to conventional plastic fabrics, thus
reducing their environmental impact.
II. MATERIALS AND METHODS
A. Materials
As a natural material for the meshes, fique fiber was used in
a weaving configuration, which presented a 0/90 braid
configuration, with a double fiber in the warp and a double fiber
in the weft. This fiber was extracted from packaging used to
transport coffee. Fig. 1 shows the fiber used.
Fig. 1. Fique fiber used
Four different types of commercial polymeric coatings were
used in order to identify which of these allowed the greatest
amount of water capture when the fique fiber mesh was coated
and used in the fog catchers. The general characteristics of each
of the coatings are mentioned below.
Scientia et Technica Año XXVIII, Vol. 30, No. 01, enero-marzo de 2025. Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira.
9
- Epoxy resin: The percentage of resin-catalyst applied by
volume was 1:1 respectively. The resin was acquired from the
company Ingequimicas of Bucaramanga, Santander, Colombia.
- Asphalt emulsion (EUCD): The resin was applied diluted in
a ratio of 1 to 3 by volume of water. Curing was carried out for
48 hours at room temperature. The resin applied was Sika brand
asphalt emulsion.
- Impercryl: This resin is formulated with styrene acrylic
resins, plasticizers and ceramic particles. The application was
direct with one coat. The resin brand used was P-7 of Poliescol
in white color.
- Polyester: The polyester resin applied was pre-accelerated,
catalyzed at 3% by weight with methyl ethyl ketone peroxide
(MEK peroxide). The resin was purchased from the company
Ingequimicas of Bucaramanga, Santander, Colombia, reference
856.
B. Characterization of meshes with coatings
Four fique-coating meshes were evaluated, presenting the
configuration shown in Table I, and an additional configuration
of uncoated fique mesh was also analyzed, as well as an
additional poly-shade mesh (Raschel), which is the one usually
used in this type of fog-catching devices.
TABLE I.
CONFIGURATION OF FIQUE-COATING SYSTEMS
Material
Description
Material 1
Fique mesh coated by epoxy resin
Material 2
Fique mesh coated by asphalt emulsion
Material 3
Fique mesh coated by impercryl
Material 4
Fique mesh coated with Polyester
Material 5
Uncoated fique mesh
Material 6
Polyshade mesh (Raschel)
The different coatings were applied on the fique fabrics by
means of conventional brushes, superficially covering the
natural fibers with the synthetic resins. All the resins were cured
for 72 hours at room temperature, and the product was applied
in a single layer on the fique fiber mesh.
To quantify the amount of polymer deposited on the natural
fibers, a mass analysis of the applied coatings was performed.
For this purpose, three representative fragments of each mesh,
measuring 8 cm × 8 cm, were weighed before and after the
polymer application using a Highland HCB602H precision
digital balance. This procedure enabled the determination of the
average mass of polymer added per sample.
Mechanical characterization was carried out by means of the
tension test following the ASTM D4595-17 standard, this
standard was developed for geotextiles, however, as expressed
by Dios Rivera et al. [17], it is the most appropriate standard to
characterize this type of materials since there is no specific
standard for the evaluation of textiles in fog-catching systems.
Although the primary function of the fique fiber meshes in
fog water harvesting systems does not require high mechanical
strength, the tensile properties of both coated and uncoated
meshes were evaluated in this study to assess their structural
integrity under environmental conditions. Natural fibers are
exposed to wind loads, handling, and long-term weathering,
which can cause mechanical degradation over time. Therefore,
understanding the effect of polymeric coatings on the tensile
behavior provides relevant information about the durability and
stability of the meshes during prolonged outdoor exposure,
even if mechanical performance is not a critical design
requirement.
The tests were carried out on a 10 KN MTS model C43.104
universal machine. The results obtained present the tensile
stress (maximum force per unit width) on deformation applied
to 5 specimens of each system with a geometry of 40 mm wide
by 200 mm long, as established in the standards. The results
presented are the average of those obtained on the five test
specimens. The strain rate was defined as 11% /min with an
ambient temperature of 21.2 +/- 1.2°C and a humidity of 63.2
+/- 1.2 %. It is important to note that the specimens were tested
in their dry state, meaning they had only absorbed the moisture
naturally present in the laboratory environment. Fig. 2 shows
the mechanical characterization of material 2.
Fig. 2. Mechanical characterization
Additionally, a morphological characterization of the mesh
materials was performed using scanning electron microscopy.
Samples smaller than 3 cm² (the size limit required by the
equipment) were coated with gold to enhance conductivity,
utilizing a Cressington Model 108 Auto/SE sputtering system.
Fig. 3 presents the samples and their coating.
Scientia et Technica Año XXVIII, Vol. 30, No. 01, enero-marzo de 2025. Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira
10
Fig. 3. Meshes coated with gold
The study was carried out with a Tescan scanning electron
microscope model MIRA 3 FEG-SEM with a secondary
electron detector model A65c SED. Images were taken at 200X,
500X and 1000X magnifications.
The water capture test of the coated mesh materials was
performed in the laboratory, using the setup designed by Rajam
et al. [13] and Wang [14] as a reference. In this procedure, fog
was generated using an ultrasonic humidifier, submerged in 3
liters of water stored in a polymeric cubicle. Additionally, a fan
operating at 3600 revolutions per minute was used to increase
the outflow velocity of the fog. A plastic tube was installed in
the cubicle to direct the flow over the different test samples of
each system. Fig. 4 shows the schematic used in the laboratory
test.
Fig 4. Schematic of the laboratory test
A glass container was installed under the samples of each of
the systems to collect the drained water. The different materials
were installed 5 cm from the pipe outlet. Each sample was
exposed to the fog generated by the device for 60 minutes, the
amount of water collected was weighed with a digital balance
to obtain the results. The samples evaluated had a geometry of
12 cm by 12 cm.
C. Construction and evaluation of fog catchers
Six flat type fog catchers were constructed using different
mesh materials. The meshes used for each of the fog catchers
were 1 m wide by 1.5 m high. The lateral supports were made
of 2.5 m high bamboo wood pillars embedded in the ground. At
the bottom of the mesh, 1-meter-long PVC gutters with a
diameter of 110 mm were installed, through which the captured
fluid precipitated towards the storage tank by gravity due to the
inclination of the gutter of approximately 30°. Each fog
catchers configuration was installed one after the other in order
to keep the water collection conditions as repeatable as
possible.
The application of the coatings for each of the meshes of the
systems that contained fique fiber was carried out manually
with a brush and on both sides (front and back), replicating what
was done with the materials. Fig. 5 shows the application
process.
Fig. 5. Coating application process
The mesh anchoring system to the supports was made using
stainless steel cables and tensioners with a diameter of 5.16
mm. Fig. 6 shows the fog catchers that were manufactured and
installed.
Fig. 6. Fog catchers manufactured and installed
Scientia et Technica Año XXVIII, Vol. 30, No. 01, enero-marzo de 2025. Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira.
11
The water collection with the fog catcher systems was carried
out in the municipality of Floridablanca, Santander, Colombia
(7.03835, -73.07218). The region has a tropical climate. The
climatological parameters for the two-month period during
which the tests were conducted are shown in Table II.
TABLE II.
CLIMATOLOGICAL PARAMETERS
Parameters
Month 1
Month 2
Maximum temperature
(°C)
28.88
27.77
Average temperature
(°C)
23.57
23.21
Minimum temperature
(°C)
18
20
Precipitation (mm)
180
195
Average Humidity (%)
87%
86%
Wind Speed (mph)
4.82
4.24
It should be noted that the climatological data were obtained
from a weather monitoring station located very close to where
the fog-catching systems were installed. Fig. 7 shows the
monitoring station.
Fig. 7. Monitoring station
The water captured by the fog catchers was stored in plastic
containers, recording the volume of water captured, in
milliliters, every 3 days. A total of 10 measurements were
obtained for each fog catchers, however 2 measurements were
discarded as they were affected by rainfall precipitation in the
area. The results show the average of the 8 endorsed
measurements.
D. Statistical analysis
In order to define if the differences obtained between the
results of the mechanical characterization of the different
systems and water capture in the six types of fog catchers were
statistically significant, an analysis of variance (ANOVA) was
used, in which if the P value is less than the significance level
(defined as 0.05), it is concluded that at least one mean of the
mechanical properties and water capture of the systems is
different. Additionally, Scheffe's post hoc tests were performed
to perform multiple comparisons of the means and to recognize
which of them was different.
III. RESULTS
A. Characterization of meshes
Table III shows an increase in the mass of the fique meshes
after the application of polymeric coatings, which varies
according to the type of resin used. This increase reflects the
amount of polymeric material adhered to the natural fibers.
TABLE III.
QUANTIFICATION OF POLYMER MASS DEPOSITED ON FIQUE
FIBER MESHES.
Material
Initial Mass
(g)
Final Mass
(g)
Coating Mass
(g)
Coating Mass
(%)
Material 1
3.22 ± 0.8
4.15 ± 1.1
0.93
28.9
Material 2
3.14 ±1.1
3.68 ± 0.9
0.54
17.2
Material 3
2.91 ± 0.7
3.62 ± 0.8
0.71
24.4
Material 4
3.23 ±0.5
4.24 ± 0.4
1.01
31.3
The results show an increase in the mass of all fique meshes
after the application of the polymeric coatings, suggesting the
formation of a layer on the natural fibers. Among the materials
evaluated, Material 4 exhibited the highest mass gain. This
behavior is attributed to the high solid content of the polyester
resin, which promotes greater deposition and retention of the
coating on the fibers.
In contrast, Material 2 recorded the lowest mass increase, due
to the high water content of the asphalt emulsion used. During
the curing process, this water evaporates, leaving a lower
amount of solids adhered to the fiber.
Meanwhile, Material 1 (coated with epoxy resin) and
Material 3 (coated with Impercryl) showed intermediate
increases. The epoxy resin, like the polyester resin, has a
considerable solid content, although slightly lower, which
explains its behavior. In the case of Impercryl, an acrylic-based
coating, its lower mass gain is also related to its high water
content, similar to the asphalt emulsion, which upon
evaporation reduces the amount of solid material retained on
the fibers.
However, it is important to note that the observed mass
increase is mainly associated with the amount of material
deposited and does not necessarily reflect the uniformity or
quality of the coating adhesion.
Table IV shows the results obtained from the tensile
mechanical tests performed on the meshed materials coated
with the different polymers.
TABLE IV.
TENSILE TEST RESULTS
Material
Tensile Strength (N/m)
Tensile Modulus (N/m)
Material 1
35550 ± 6098
603697 ± 34325
Material 2
9275 ± 674
143093 ± 47275
Material 3
13792 ± 1102
190142 ± 88387
Material 4
31308 ± 6972
498374 ± 49683
Material 5
8375 ± 3340
120412 ± 32605
Material 6
2658 ± 253
10416 ± 1116
Scientia et Technica Año XXVIII, Vol. 30, No. 01, enero-marzo de 2025. Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira
12
All systems showed an improvement in tensile stress when the
coatings were used, compared to the uncoated fique mesh
system. The best performance was obtained by the epoxy resin-
coated fique mesh system, which showed an increase of 324.4%
compared to the uncoated fique fabric. This was followed by
the polyester resin coated system with an increase of 273.8%.
The fique fiber mesh systems exhibited a higher tensile
strength than the poly-shade mesh, this is due to the fact that
although natural fibers usually have lower mechanical
properties than polymeric fibers [18], there were more natural
fibers that were supporting the load due to the configuration and
manufacture of the fique fabric used. According to Singh et al.
[19] the higher the fiber volume fraction, the better the
mechanical behavior. Fig. 8 shows the configuration and
quantity of the fibers of the fique fabric and the poly-shade
mesh. The results obtained for the polyshade mesh are in the
order of those reported by Rivera et al. [20], the results of fique
could not be compared since there are no studies where they
were characterized with the standard used in the study.
Fig. 8. Woven configuration. A) Fique fiber, B) polyshade
The coatings used made all the meshed systems stiffer
compared to the uncoated fique fabric. The highest tensile
modulus was presented by the fique mesh coated with epoxy
resin being 401.36% higher than the uncoated fique fiber fabric
and the lowest was presented by the fabric coated with asphalt
emulsion, however, being also higher than the uncoated fabric
by 18.83%.
Table V shows the ANOVA tests where the significant
differences between the means of the different mechanical
properties of the meshed systems were evaluated.
TABLE V.
ANOVA TEST FOR MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
Property
Source
Sum of
squares
Mean
square
FO
P
2.70 E+9
5.39 E+9
32.8
<0.001
Tensile
Strength
Residual
systems
1.97 E+8
1.64 E+7
6.36 E+11
1.27 E+11
33.8
<0.001
Tensile
Modules
Residual
systems
4.51 E+10
3.76 E +9
As can be seen, a P value of less than 0.05 is obtained for
both tensile stress and modulus of elasticity, indicating that at
least one of the coated meshed systems had a statistically
different mean from the others.
Post hoc tests show that the system coated with epoxy resin
and the one coated with polyester have no statistically
significant differences between them in their tensile stress and
modulus of elasticity; however, there are differences with the
other mesh systems. Additionally, the asphalt emulsion,
impercryl, uncoated fique fabric and polyshade systems have
no statistically significant differences between them in their
tensile modulus and stress.
Scanning electron microscopy analysis of the different fique
mesh systems with epoxy resin, asphalt emulsion, Impercryl,
and polyester resin coatings are shown in Fig. 9, 10, 11 and 12,
respectively.
Fig. 9. Electron microscopy of epoxy resin coating. A) 10X, B) 2000 X
Fig. 10. Electron microscopy of the asphaltic emulsion coating. A)10 X,
B)500 X
Fig. 11. Electron microscopy of the impercryl coating. A) 10 X, B) 2000 X
Scientia et Technica Año XXVIII, Vol. 30, No. 01, enero-marzo de 2025. Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira.
13
Fig. 12. Electron microscopy of the polyester resin coating A)10 X, B) 1000 X
A low compatibility between the fique fiber with the asphalt
emulsion and with the impercryl coating is evidenced,
presenting cracks and spaces where the resin did not have good
adherence with the fibrous surface. This can be attributed to the
nature of their functional groups, which do not form strong
interactions with the hydroxyl groups present in the fique fiber.
Additionally, the mass analysis confirmed that materials with
lower adhesion also exhibited lower mass, suggesting that the
amount of deposited polymeric material influences crack
formation. This indicates that both chemical compatibility and
material quantity affect adhesion performance. However, with
respect to the epoxy and polyester resin, the morphological
analysis infers that there was a better adhesion with the fique,
since it presents a wide, smooth and compact surface. This
improved adhesion is likely due to the reactive epoxide groups
in the epoxy resin, which form strong covalent bonds with the
hydroxyl groups of the natural fiber, and to the crosslinking
reaction of polyester resin catalyzed with MEK peroxide, which
enhances rigidity and adhesion. It should be noted that the
polymer resin-natural fiber adhesion is not so good due to the
hydrophilic characteristics of the fibers and the hydrophobic
nature of the matrix together with the impregnation process
used, which was manual [21].
The SEM micrographs revealed that, after the application of
the polymeric coatings, the natural roughness and porous
structure of the fique fibers were partially covered by the
synthetic layer. This morphological change suggests a
reduction in the effective surface area available for water
droplet condensation. Although the coatings improved the
hydrophobic behavior of the meshes, the smoother surface
generated by the polymer layer may limit the anchoring points
for droplet formation, potentially affecting the fog water
harvesting efficiency.
The water capture tests of the coated mesh materials carried
out in the laboratory showed the results presented in Fig. 13.
Fig. 13. Water capture testing of coated mesh materials in the laboratory.
The highest water capture was obtained in the Polyshade
mesh system (Rachel), being 3.88 ± 0.258 mg/cm2h. This result
was not only due to the characteristics of the Polyshade mesh
material but, additionally, to the geometry and size of the mesh,
since these are factors that directly affect the capture efficiency
as mentioned by Vásquez et al. [22], these parameters being
different in the fique fiber mesh used with the other coatings.
The use of polymeric coatings applied to the natural mesh
increased the amount of water capture, with a higher percentage
in the mesh with epoxy resin, where the increase obtained was
289.08% with respect to the uncoated natural fiber, followed by
the mesh with polyester resin at 268.66%. The lowest growth
was presented with the impercryl at 41.54%.
When the ANOVA test was applied to evaluate significant
differences in water capture in the laboratory, the values shown
in Table VI were obtained.
TABLE VI.
ANOVA TEST FOR WATER CAPTURE IN THE LABORATORY
Property
Source
Sum of
squares
Mean
square
FO
P
30.013
6.0026
209
<0.001
Water capture
in lab
Residuals
systems
0.517
0.0287
As can be seen, a P value of less than 0.05 is obtained, so that
at least one of the coated mesh systems presents a statistically
different mean from the others in the amount of water capture.
Post hoc tests show that the poly-shade mesh had a
statistically significant mean water capture difference versus
the others. Additionally, the water capture of the mesh coated
with epoxy resin and polyester did not show significant
differences between the mesh coated with asphalt emulsion,
Impercryl and the uncoated fique mesh, and there were no
statistically significant differences.
B. Evaluation of fog catchers
The average obtained from the 8 measurements of water
capture by the fog catchers installed in the field is shown in Fig.
14.
Scientia et Technica Año XXVIII, Vol. 30, No. 01, enero-marzo de 2025. Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira
14
Fig.14. Water capture testing of coated mesh materials in the field.
The highest water capture was obtained in the fog-catcher
with the poly-shade mesh, followed by the fog-catcher with
fique mesh coated with epoxy resin, which had an increase of
124.4% in water capture with respect to the fog-catcher with the
uncoated fique mesh.
The coatings on the fog catchers, with polyester resin,
impercryl, asphalt emulsion increased water capture by
105.9%, 41.5%, and 37.2%, respectively, compared to the
uncoated fique fiber.
The increase in water capture, as reported by Rajaram et al.
[23], is due to the fact that increasing the hydrophobicity of the
mesh increases the fog collection efficiency. Despite the
increase in water capture with the applied coatings versus
natural fiber, the amount collected by the fog catchers is below
the common values where these systems are installed which are
0.8 to 10 L/m2d [24].
When the ANOVA test was applied to evaluate significant
differences in the field water capture, the values shown in Table
VII were obtained.
TABLE VII.
ANOVA TEST WATER CAPTURE IN THE FIELD
Property
Source
Sum of
squares
Mean
square
FO
P
0.250
0.050
150
<0.001
Water
capture in
field
Residuals
systems
0.0179
3.32 E-4
The post hoc tests reflected the same behavior as the
laboratory tests, where the polyshade mesh showed a
statistically significant difference in water capture versus the
others; between the mesh coated with epoxy resin and polyester
there are no significant differences and additionally between the
meshes coated with asphalt emulsion, Impercryl and the
uncoated fique mesh there are no statistically significant
differences.
IV. CONCLUSIONS
The mechanical, morphological, and water capture properties
of four polymer-coated fique fiber meshes (epoxy, polyester,
Impercyrl, and asphalt emulsion) were evaluated and compared
to an uncoated fique mesh and an additional poly-shade mesh
(Raschel).
An increase in the mechanical properties was evidenced in
all the polymer-coated fique meshes, compared to the natural
fique mesh system. The best performance was obtained in the
epoxy resin coated fique mesh system.
The morphological analysis with scanning electron
microscopy allowed observing low adhesion between the fique
fiber with the asphalt emulsion and with the impercryl coating.
However, with respect to the epoxy and polyester resin, a
medium adhesion was observed.
The use of all the polymeric coatings applied to the natural
fiber mesh increased the amount of water capture in the
laboratory, with the highest increase when using the epoxy
resin, compared to the uncoated natural fiber.
Fog catchers were manufactured and installed in the field
with fique fiber coated with the polymers, which showed an
increase in water capture compared to uncoated natural fique
fiber. The results, as in the laboratory, showed that the increase
was greater with the epoxy coating.
As the mechanical properties of the materials in this study
could be affected by water absorption, further research is
needed to evaluate these materials under operational humidity
conditions. This will provide more relevant information for
practical reuse.
It is important to acknowledge that the application of
polymeric coatings not only modifies the hydrophobic behavior
of the natural fibers but also alters their surface morphology and
increases their mass. This study did not quantify the specific
surface area reduction caused by the coatings, which could have
an impact on the condensation and water harvesting efficiency.
Future studies should address this limitation by evaluating the
relationship between surface area loss, added polymer mass,
and water collection performance in order to optimize the
coating application.
REFERENCES
[1]J. A. Pascual, M. F. Naranjo, R. Payano, y Ojilve Ramon Medrano Perez,
«Tecnología para la recolección de agua de niebla», 2011, doi:
10.13140/RG.2.1.4806.7048.
[2]H. Yue, Q. Zeng, J. Huang, Z. Guo, y W. Liu, «Fog collection behavior of
bionic surface and large fog collector: A review», Adv. Colloid Interface Sci.,
vol. 300, p. 102583, feb. 2022, doi: 10.1016/j.cis.2021.102583.
[3]M. Qadir, G. Jiménez, R. Farnum, L. Dodson, y V. Smakhtin, «Fog Water
Collection: Challenges beyond Technology», Water, vol. 10, n.
o
4, p. 372, mar.
2018, doi: 10.3390/w10040372.
[4]D. V. Carrera-Villacrés, I. C. Robalino, F. F. Rodríguez, W. R. Sandoval, D.
L. Hidalgo, y T. Toulkeridis, «An Innovative Fog Catcher System Applied in
the Andean Communities of Ecuador», Trans. ASABE, vol. 60, n.
o
6, pp. 1917-
1923, 2017, doi: 10.13031/trans.12368.
[5]C. A. A. Corredor, V. Buitrago, S. J. D. Ayala, T. Ambiental, K. Y. C.
Almeida, y T. Ambiental, «Propuesta De Un Sistema De “Atrapa-Nieblas”,
Como Fuente De Agua No Convencional En La Vereda La Fuente, Municipio
De Los Santos, Departamento De Santander.», p. 9, 2017.
[6]S. Korkmaz y İ. A. Kariper, «Fog harvesting against water shortage»,
Environ. Chem. Lett., vol. 18, n.
o
2, pp. 361-375, mar. 2020, doi:
10.1007/s10311-019-00950-5.
[7]Y. Cheng et al., «Fog catcher brushes with environmental friendly slippery
alumina micro-needle structured surface for efficient fog-harvesting», J. Clean.
Prod., vol. 315, p. 127862, sep. 2021, doi: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.127862.
[8]S. Zhang, J. Huang, Z. Chen, y Y. Lai, «Bioinspired Special Wettability
Surfaces: From Fundamental Research to Water Harvesting Applications»,
Small, vol. 13, n.
o
3, p. 1602992, ene. 2017, doi: 10.1002/smll.201602992.
[9]J. Arutchelvi, M. Sudhakar, A. Arkatkar, M. Doble, S. Bhaduri, y P. V.
Uppara, «Biodegradation of polyethylene and polypropylene», Indian j
biotechnol, p. 15, 2008.
Scientia et Technica Año XXVIII, Vol. 30, No. 01, enero-marzo de 2025. Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira.
15
[10] K. L. Pickering, M. G. A. Efendy, y T. M. Le, «A review of recent
developments in natural fibre composites and their mechanical performance»,
Compos. Part Appl. Sci. Manuf., vol. 83, pp. 98-112, abr. 2016, doi:
10.1016/j.compositesa.2015.08.038.
[11] Y. G. Thyavihalli Girijappa, S. Mavinkere Rangappa, J.
Parameswaranpillai, y S. Siengchin, «Natural Fibers as Sustainable and
Renewable Resource for Development of Eco-Friendly Composites: A
Comprehensive Review», Front. Mater., vol. 6, p. 226, sep. 2019, doi:
10.3389/fmats.2019.00226.
[12] A. Ali et al., «Hydrophobic treatment of natural fibers and their
composites—A review», J. Ind. Text., vol. 47, n.
o
8, pp. 2153-2183, may 2018,
doi: 10.1177/1528083716654468.
[13] M. Rajaram, X. Heng, M. Oza, y C. Luo, «Enhancement of fog-collection
efficiency of a Raschel mesh using surface coatings and local geometric
changes», Colloids Surf. Physicochem. Eng. Asp., vol. 508, pp. 218-229, nov.
2016, doi: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2016.08.034.
[14] Y. Wan, J. Xu, Z. Lian, y J. Xu, «Superhydrophilic surfaces with
hierarchical groove structure for efficient fog collection», Colloids Surf.
Physicochem. Eng. Asp., vol. 628, p. 127241, nov. 2021, doi:
10.1016/j.colsurfa.2021.127241.
[15] C. M. Regalado y A. Ritter, «The design of an optimal fog water
collector: A theoretical analysis», Atmospheric Res., vol. 178-179, pp. 45-54,
sep. 2016, doi: 10.1016/j.atmosres.2016.03.006.
[16] S. A. Gómez-Suarez y E. Córdoba-Tuta, «Composite materials
reinforced with fique fibers – a review», Rev. UIS Ing., vol. 21, n.
o
1, ene. 2022,
doi: 10.18273/revuin.v21n1-2022013.
[17] J. de D. Rivera y D. Lopez-Garcia, «Mechanical characteristics of
Raschel mesh and their application to the design of large fog collectors»,
Atmospheric Res., vol. 151, pp. 250-258, ene. 2015, doi:
10.1016/j.atmosres.2014.06.011.
[18] M. R. Sanjay, G. R. Arpitha, L. L. Naik, K. Gopalakrishna, y B. Yogesha,
«Applications of Natural Fibers and Its Composites: An Overview», Nat.
Resour., vol. 07, n.
o
03, pp. 108-114, 2016, doi: 10.4236/nr.2016.73011.
[19] J. I. P. Singh, S. Singh, y V. Dhawan, «Influence of fiber volume fraction
and curing temperature on mechanical properties of jute/PLA green
composites», Polym. Polym. Compos., vol. 28, n.
o
4, pp. 273-284, may 2020,
doi: 10.1177/0967391119872875.
[20] J. de D. Rivera y D. Lopez-Garcia, «Mechanical characteristics of
Raschel mesh and their application to the design of large fog collectors»,
Atmospheric Res., vol. 151, pp. 250-258, ene. 2015, doi:
10.1016/j.atmosres.2014.06.011.
[21] M. N. A. M. Taib y N. M. Julkapli, «4 - Dimensional stability of natural
fiber-based and hybrid composites», en Mechanical and Physical Testing of
Biocomposites, Fibre-Reinforced Composites and Hybrid Composites, M.
Jawaid, M. Thariq, y N. Saba, Eds., en Woodhead Publishing Series in
Composites Science and Engineering. , Woodhead Publishing, 2019, pp. 61-79.
doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-08-102292-4.00004-7.
[22] L. Vásquez-Ramírez, L. Cieza-León, y D. Cieza-León, «Efficiency of
water collection for three types of mesh trappers in rural highlands of the
northern highlands of Peru», n.
o
3, p. 9, 2020.
[23] M. Rajaram, X. Heng, M. Oza, y C. Luo, «Enhancement of fog-collection
efficiency of a Raschel mesh using surface coatings and local geometric
changes», Colloids Surf. Physicochem. Eng. Asp., vol. 508, pp. 218-229, nov.
2016, doi: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2016.08.034.
[24] O. Klemm et al., «Fog as a fresh-water resource: overview and
perspectives.», Ambio, vol. 41, n.
o
3, pp. 221-234, may 2012, doi:
10.1007/s13280-012-0247-8.
Sergio Andrés Gómez S. Was
born in Bucaramanga, Colombia in
1988. He received the B.S in
mechanical engineering and
industrial engineering from
Universidad Pontificia
Bolivariana. Magister in industrial
engineering from Universidad
Pamplona, Colombia. He is
currently professor and researcher
in the Faculty of Engineering at
Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana.
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6425-7062.
Edwin Córdoba Tuta. was born
in Bucaramanga, Colombia in
1974. He received the B.S in
mechanical engineering from
Universidad Industrial de
Santander. Magister in
Mechanical engineering from
Universidad Industrial de
Santander, Colombia. He is
currently professor and researcher
in the Faculty of Engineering at
Universidad Pontificia
Bolivariana.
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8298-5007