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Publications - ISI Article

A Novel Simple Anti-Ice Aluminum Coating: Synthesis and In-Lab Comparison with a Superhydrophobic Hierarchical Surface

Publications - ISI Article

A Novel Simple Anti-Ice Aluminum Coating: Synthesis and In-Lab Comparison with a Superhydrophobic Hierarchical Surface

The work presents a synthesis process of an aluminum surface with long-lasting anti-ice properties and excellent resistance in acid, basic and saline solutions. This process is very promising for industrial applications, taking into account its eco-friendliness, simplicity and low cost.

The RSE laboratories have developed and characterized a simple process to obtain a slippery surface with antifreeze and icephobic properties. The process involves the growth of a nanostructured pseudo-boehmite on an aluminum substrate and subsequently the application of a coating consisting of a short-chain oligomeric silane: the coating is eco-friendly as it is fluorine-free. The resulting surface is conceptually similar to a SLIP material where a lubricant is infused into a high porosity surface, giving it high slipperiness. However, there are substantial differences in the synthesis process: the porous surface is inorganic, the process to generate it is very simple and the material is synthesized quickly and economically. The laboratory assessed the hydrophobicity at room and low temperatures, the ice nucleation temperature and the ice adhesion forces. It also tested the persistence of hydrophobicity after prolonged immersion in acidic, basic and saline solutions, while the durability of icephobic behavior was evaluated by repeated shear stress tests. The results were compared to those of a superhydrophobic aluminum surface functionalized with a fluorinated siloxane. The new coating shows excellent anti-freeze properties and excellent durability. The process presented in this work is very promising for industrial applications, also taking into account its eco-friendliness, simplicity and low cost.

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