title: Condensation and freezing of droplets on superhydrophobic surfaces.
abstract: Superhydrophobic coatings are reported as promising candidates for anti-icing applications. Various studies have shown that as well as having ultra water repellency the surfaces have reduced ice adhesion and can delay water freezing. However, the structure or texture (roughness) of the superhydrophobic surface is subject to degradation during the thermocycling or wetting process. This degradation can impair the superhydrophobicity and the icephobicity of those coatings. In this review, a brief overview of the process of droplet freezing on superhydrophobic coatings is presented with respect to their potential in anti-icing applications. To support this discussion, new data is presented about the condensation of water onto physically decorated substrates, and the associated freezing process which impacts on the freezing of macroscopic droplets on the surface.
authors.affiliation: Surface Science and Technology, ETH, Zurich, Wolfgang-Pauli-Str. 10, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland; Thin Film Coatings Group, Mawson Institute, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, SA 5095, Australia.
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Oberli
authors.affiliation: Thin Film Coatings Group, Mawson Institute, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, SA 5095, Australia.
authors.forename: Dean
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Caruso
authors.affiliation: Thin Film Coatings Group, Mawson Institute, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, SA 5095, Australia.
authors.forename: Colin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.affiliation: Thin Film Coatings Group, Mawson Institute, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, SA 5095, Australia.
authors.forename: Manrico
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fabretto
authors.affiliation: Thin Film Coatings Group, Mawson Institute, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, SA 5095, Australia.
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.affiliation: Thin Film Coatings Group, Mawson Institute, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, SA 5095, Australia. Electronic address: drew.evans@unisa.edu.au.
authors.forename: Drew
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Evans
keywords: Anti-icing; Condensation; Frost retardation; Self-seeding; Superhydrophobic