Effects of microstructure design on aluminum surface hydrophobic and ice‐retarding properties

Abstract

The poor mechanical strength of superhydrophobic surface limits its use in civil aviation. In this work, superhydrophobic surfaces with open and closed microstructure design were prepared, and their hydrophobicity and icephobicity over icing/de-icing cycles were thoroughly studied. For all samples, contact angle decreased and contact angle hysteresis increased over time. However, surface with interconnected hollow honeycomb microstructure design kept its Cassie-Baxter state even after 20 times icing/de-icing cycles, while surface with repeated individual post microscopic unit lost its superhydrophobicity only after six times icing/de-icing cycles. The interconnected hollow honeycomb microstructure design strengthened surface mechanical strength by lowering the damage to microscopic unit. The freezing time for water droplet on surface with interconnected hollow honeycomb microstructure design was only slightly shortened over time. The difference in water/ice-solid contact area for surfaces with different nano-microscale design also led to the difference in wetting and ice-retarding ability. Surface with interconnected hollow honeycomb microstructure design showed the strongest ice-retarding ability followed by surface with interconnected hollow brick, ladder type, and triangle shape microstructure design.

Icephobic Performance of Multi-Scale Laser-Textured Aluminum Surfaces for Aeronautic Applications

“…In fact, carbon-rich molecules can be absorbed from the ambient air, and the surface chemistry can be accordingly changed [ 31 , 32 ], making the wetting behavior time-dependent and its functionality limited for practical applications [ 33 ]. Moreover, microstructures fabricated on aluminum with surface features in the range of 30 to 50 µm have shown ice-delaying properties for single droplets freezing on the surface [ 34 , 35 ].…”

Fabrication of superhydrophobic and ice-repellent surfaces on pure aluminium using single and multiscaled periodic textures

“…For instance, using regular and repetitive patterns it was possible to produce surfaces presenting air-cushion like behaviour resulting in lower adhesion and thus leading water droplets to easy roll at the materials’ surface (rolling-off phenomena) 13 . In particular, triangular-like patterns were fabricated on aluminium using photolithography methods, obtaining both hydrophobic and ice-retarding characteristics 14 . In addition, it was also reported that micro/nano-rough aluminium surfaces showing hydrophobic properties can reduce the anti-icing behaviour and thus forming ice even faster 15 .…”

Thermodynamic method for establishment of relationship between icephobicity/superhydrophobicity and microstructure–Based on computing for adhesion work

“…As a proof experiment, by using hydrothermal method, X . K. Zhang respectively obtained the Zn–Al LDH (Layered Double Hydroxide) superhydrophobic films with layer–shaped nanowalls and interconnected hollow structure (static water APCA up to 161.39°, SA< 10°) [19], as well as the Bayerite/Zn–Al LDH superhydrophobic films with micro/nano composite structure (static water CA up to 167.32°, SA < 3°), respectively in molarity rate of NH 3 H 2 O/Zn 2+ of 0.75:1 and 1.25:1 (Fig. 7).…”