Icephobicity studies of superhydrophobic coating on aluminium

Mechanically robust superhydrophobic (SHP) and icephobic performances are highly needed for an anti-icing surface in practical applications. Here, a SHP coating is prepared on the aluminium (Al) substrate using hydrothermal reaction and subsequent modification of hexadecyltrimethoxysilane, showing a water contact angle larger than 158° and a sliding angle (SA) less than 5°. This SHP coating displays a robust hydrophobic performance in acidic or alkaline solutions, after sand abrasion and consecutive icing/deicing cycles. It largely reduces ice adhesive strength and delays starting icing time on Al. Therefore, this work may shine some light in engineering aluminium-based materials to avoid ice accumulation.实际应用中的防冰表面亟需兼具机械稳定性的超疏水（superhydrophobic，SHP）与疏冰性能。本研究通过水热反应及后续十六烷基三甲氧基硅烷改性工艺，在铝（aluminium，Al）基底上制备了一款SHP涂层，其水接触角大于158°，滑动角（sliding angle，SA）小于5°。该涂层在酸碱溶液中、经砂磨处理及连续结冰/除冰循环后，仍可保持稳定的疏水性能，可显著降低铝基底上的冰粘附强度，并延缓结冰起始时间。因此，本研究可为工程化铝基材料规避积冰问题提供一定的参考思路。