From superhydrophobicity to icephobicity: forces and interaction analysis

Abstract

The term “icephobicity” has emerged in the literature recently. An extensive discussion took place on whether the icephobicity is related to the superhydrophobicity, and the consensus is that there is no direct correlation. Besides the parallel between the icephobicity and superhydrophobicity for water/ice repellency, there are similarities on other levels including the hydrophobic effect/hydrophobic interactions, mechanisms of protein folding and ice crystal formation. In this paper, we report how ice adhesion is different from water using force balance analysis, and why superhydrophobic surfaces are not necessary icephobic. We also present experimental data on anti-icing of various surfaces and suggest a definition of icephobicity, which is broad enough to cover a variety of situations relevant to de-icing including low adhesion strength and delayed ice crystallization and bouncing.

Anti-Icing Superhydrophobic Surfaces: Controlling Entropic Molecular Interactions to Design Novel Icephobic Concrete

“…Ice adhesion strength on mortar samples was measured using the shear test [58]. Contact angle (CA) values, roll-off angle of water droplets, as well as concrete mortar formulation, were the main parameters for the icephobicity assessment.…”

“…According to Kulinich and Farzaneh, the ice adhesion to a superhydrophobic surface is correlated with contact angle hysteresis, rather than contact angle itself, which can be explained by the reduction of the ice-solid contact area [7]. High valued of the contact angle coupled with low contact angle hysteresis imply the Cassie wetting state with air pockets on the surface [58]. The cavities or voids with air pockets can act as stress concentrators at the ice-solid interface.…”

Superhydrophobic coatings using nanomaterials for anti-frost applications - review

“…These two effects can be attributed to difference of the microstructures and chemical composition between the petal and the lotus leaf [9]. Now, talking about ice-phobicity, a surface should be called ice-phobic if it delays frost formation from incoming water (moisture) or delays ice formation from condensed droplets (frost crystals) in the situation where normally ice would form and/or there is low adhesion force between ice and the solid surface [10]. Considering this definition, it is clear that to achieve ice-phobicity or anti-frost property on a cold surface, the surface can be made superhydrophobic with low adhesion force i.e.…”

Static contact angle measurement at different volumes of a drop sitting on non-ferrous metals

“…Studies in this field are carried out as a search of a specific geometric configuration of the microstructure, improving hydrophobic or hydrophilic properties [7][8][9][10]. At the same time, the fundamental laws of the processes, when the static angle forms on the structured surfaces have not been studied for predictive modelling.…”