Preparation and Anti-icing Behavior of Superhydrophobic Surfaces on Aluminum Alloy Substrates

• DOI: 10.1021/la400979d
• Publication Date: 2013-05-30T09:07:10Z
• Authors: Min Ruan; Wen Li; Baoshan Wang; Binwei Deng; Fumin Ma; Zhanlong Yu
• Keywords: Isotropic etching; Hysteresis

It has been expected that superhydrophobic (SHP) surfaces could have potential anti-icing applications due to their excellent water-repellence properties. However, a thorough understanding on the performance of such never reported; even systematic characterizations icing behavior various are still rare because lack powerful instrumentations. In this study, we employed electrochemical anodic oxidation and chemical etching methods simplify fabrication procedures for SHP aluminum alloy substrates, aiming at properties engineering materials. We found one-step with FeCl3 HCl as etchants was most effective ideal large contact angle (CA, 159.1°) small hysteresis (CAH, 4.0°). To systematically investigate prepared surfaces, designed robust apparatus real-time control system based two stage refrigerating method. This can monitor humidity, pressure, temperature during process surfaces. demonstrated exhibited properties, i.e., from room 16.0 °C, time be postponed 406s 676s compared normal surface if were put horizontally, decreased -2.2 °C -6.1 °C. If tilted, sprayed water droplets iced up -3.9 but bounced off reached low -8.0 The present study therefore suggests general, simple, low-cost methodology promising in materials different fields (e.g., power lines aircrafts).