Tunable superhydrophobic surfaces and their impact on ice mitigation
In a review, the fundamental wetting properties of solid surfaces and superhydrophobic surfaces in particular are described.
Superhydrophobic (SHP) fabrication techniques and the effect of surface texture on the mechanism of water droplet interaction with the SHP surfaces are also discussed.
Robustness and limitations
Next, a comprehensive review of SHP surfaces’ performance in ice mitigation is presented, particularly the bouncing mechanism of super-cooled water droplets on substrates at subzero temperatures and the subsequent reduction of ice adhesion strength. The robustness of these surfaces, as well as the limitations of their performance in various environmental conditions, is also considered.
Retaining Cassie state of wetting
It is believed that SHP surfaces’ ability to retain the Cassie state of wetting, even during impact by high velocity droplets and during frost formation, is the key to their icephobic performance. The design and engineering of the surface’s rough textures, as well as understanding super-cooled water droplet surface kinetics at the microscopic level, are crucial in developing SHP-based icephobic surfaces.
The study is published in: Progress in Organic Coatings, Volume 112, November 2017.
Event Tip
On December 6 the European Coatings Seminar Functional Coatings offers the opportunity learn all relevant basics to start working on this fascinating topic.
