Fabrication of SiO2/PDMS/EP superhydrophobic coating for anti-icing

In low-temperature environments, the condensation and icing phenomena of water molecules on material surfaces may adversely affect the functionality and durability of various products, so it is critical to improve the anti-icing properties of material surfaces. In this study, the anti-icing mechanism of superhydrophobic coatings was analyzed based on the surface wettability theory, and SiO2/PDMS/EP superhydrophobic coating was fabricated by the spraying method. The surface wettability, surface micro-morphology, and surface chemical composition of the coating was characterized, and the stability of the coating as well as the anti-icing properties were investigated. The results show that the SiO2/PDMS/EP superhydrophobic coating sprayed on the Al-based surface has a contact angle of 163.3° and a sliding angle of 4°, and the coating maintains excellent superhydrophobicity at a low temperature of -15°. This coating can significantly delay the freezing time and temperature of droplets on its surface, reduce the shear force and natural deicing time required to remove surface ice, and exhibit excellent anti-icing performance. The excellent anti-icing durability of the coating was demonstrated by the icing-deicing cycle experiment. Subsequently, the anti-frosting performance was further investigated, and the results showed that it effectively slowed down the speed of frost formation. Therefore, the superhydrophobic coating fabricated in this study is suitable for a wide range of working conditions and has potential practicality. It also provides experimental guidance for the application of anti-icing coatings on Al surfaces.