Various applications require surfaces with anti-fingerprint properties. This article reviews the surface properties that govern the fingerprinting process. The achievement of surfaces free of fingerprints deals with the construction of amphiphobic surfaces that repel water and oil. Based on wetting theories, two key parameters (Surface energy and Roughness) show significant effects on surface wettability. We address in this paper, the basic requirements and strategies of designing and manufacturing amphiphobic surfaces using different substrates. The synergetic effect of low surface energy and functional surface morphology leads to reduced wettability, resulting in anti-fingerprint properties. The trends of future investigations and fundamental conclusions are drawn. The remaining challenges and future outlook of this field are also highlighted.

In this paper, we have studied the effect of the degree of asymmetry and peakedness on the performances of a rough contact. A numerical model is proposed to evaluate the real area, the number of contacting asperities and the normal stiffness. The contact between two rough surfaces was modeled as a contact between a rigid flat and an elastic–plastic rough surface taking into account the work hardening and interaction among asperities. The Pearson system of frequency curves was used to generate non-Gaussian random surfaces. Results show that a negative skewness and/or a low kurtosis improve the contact performances by increasing the normal stiffness. This increase is governed by much more asperities into contact and more elastic behavior.

In this study, microscopic deterministic and analytical contact models that take the properties of engineering surfaces into account have been developed. Geometrical characteristics of rough surfaces are deduced using the standard procedure for roughness and waviness parameters. These models allow the analyses of the asperities behaviour and real contact area. Comparison between the analytical and deterministic results shows a good correlation. The microscopic model is often enabling to simulate the real structure with complex geometry, so, a homogenisation technique has been developed. The interface of the equivalent model has been governed by the microscopic model results. Sensitivity of models responses to the random pulling of surfaces parameters has been also analysed.

This paper aims at investigating the production of high quality briquettes from olive mill solid waste (OMSW) mixed with corn starch as a binder for energy production. For this purpose, different mass percentages of OMSW and binder were considered; 100%-0%, 90%-10%, 85%-15%, and 70%-30%, respectively. The briquetting process of the raw mixtures was carried out based on high pressures. Physico-chemical and mechanical characterizations were performed in order to select the best conditions for the briquettes production. It was observed that during the densification process, the optimal applied pressure increases notably the unit density, the bulk density, and the compressive strength. Mechanical characterization shows that the prepared sample with 15% of corn starch shows the best mechanical properties. Moreover, the corn starch binder affects quietly the high heating value (HHV) which increases from 16.36 MJ/Kg for the 100%-0% sample to 16.92 MJ/Kg for the 85%-15% sample. In addition, the kinetic study shows that the binder agent does not affect negatively the thermal degradation of the briquettes. Finally, the briquettes characterization shows that the studied samples with particles size less than 100 μm and blended with 15% of corn starch binder are promising biofuels either for household or industrial plants use.

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