Research Progress of Basic Theory and Preparation Technology of Superhydrophobic Anti/De-Icing Materials

Abstract

In a cold and high humidity environment, ice and frost are easy to condense on the surfaces of aircraft, railway transportation, wind turbine blades, transmission lines and other equipment, thus reducing work efficiency, affecting the proper use of equipment, and causing huge security risks. Therefore, how to effectively delay the formation of frost on the surfaces of solid materials and promote the removal of ice has become a research hot topic in the field of high-performance materials. Conventionalde-icing methods including mechanical, chemical, and thermal de-icing have the problems of high energy consumption, excessive de-icing waste liquidlow de-icing efficiency, and easy to damage the surface of equipment, which are contrary to the sustainable development concept of “green, environmental protection, high efficiency and energy saving”. Inspired by natural biology, researchers have developed some new passive superhydrophobic anti-icing technologies, which have the advantages of low cost, low energy consumption and excellent anti-ice performance, and perform high application prospect. In this paper, for the new superhydrophobic anti-icing materials, the theoretical progress of superhydrophobic wetting of solid surfaces and the icingand anti-icing mechanism of solid surfaces were reviewed. The top-down preparation methods (laser etching, chemical etching, template method, etc.) and bottom-up preparation methods (coating technology, magnetron sputtering technology, sol-gel technology and electrodeposition technology, etc.) of superhydrophobic anti-icing surface were summarized. Finally, the limitations of superhydrophobic anti-icing materials were discussed, and their application prospect and development trend were forecasted.

Keywords

• superhydrophobic|wetting|mechanism of anti/de-icing|preparation technology