Super-Hydrophobic/Icephobic Coatings Based on Silica Nanoparticles Modified by Self-Assembled Monolayers.
A super-hydrophobic surface has been obtained from nanocomposite materials based on silica nanoparticles and self-assembled monolayers of 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorooctyltriethoxysilane (POTS) using spin coating and chemical vapor deposition methods. Scanning electron microscope images reveal the porous structure of the silica nanoparticles, which can trap small-scale air pockets. An average water contact angle of 163° and bouncing off of incoming water droplets suggest that a super-hydrophobic surface has been obtained based on the silica nanoparticles and POTS coating. The monitored water droplet icing test results show that icing is significantly delayed by silica-based nano-coatings compared with bare substrates and commercial icephobic products. Ice adhesion test results show that the ice adhesion strength is reduced remarkably by silica-based nano-coatings. The bouncing phenomenon of water droplets, the icing delay performance and the lower ice adhesion strength suggest that the super-hydrophobic coatings based on a combination of silica and POTS also show icephobicity. An erosion test rig based on pressurized pneumatic water impinging impact was used to evaluate the durability of the super-hydrophobic/icephobic coatings. The results show that durable coatings have been obtained, although improvement will be needed in future work aiming for applications in aerospace.
Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK. junpeng.liu@nottingham.ac.uk.
Junpeng
J
Liu
Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK. evxzj3@exmail.nottingham.ac.uk.
Zaid A
ZA
Janjua
Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK. martin.roe@nottingham.ac.uk.
Martin
M
Roe
Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK. fang.xu@nottingham.ac.uk.
Fang
F
Xu
Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK. barbara.turnbull@nottingham.ac.uk.
Barbara
B
Turnbull
Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK. kwing-so.choi@nottingham.ac.uk.
Kwing-So
KS
Choi
Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK. xianghui.hou@nottingham.ac.uk.
Xianghui
X
Hou
durability; fluorosilane; icephobic; self-assembled monolayers; silica nanoparticles; super-hydrophobic