Super-hydrophobic/icephobic coatings based on silica nanoparticles modified by self-assembled monolayers

Liu, Junpeng; Janjua, Zaid A.; Roe, Martin; Xu, Fang; Turnbull, Barbara; Choi, Kwing-So; Hou, Xianghui

Abstract

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.

Citation

Liu, J., Janjua, Z. A., Roe, M., Xu, F., Turnbull, B., Choi, K., & Hou, X. (2016). Super-hydrophobic/icephobic coatings based on silica nanoparticles modified by self-assembled monolayers. Nanomaterials, 6(12), Article 232. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano6120232

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Nov 28, 2016
• Publication Date: Dec 2, 2016
• Deposit Date: Dec 2, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Dec 2, 2016
• Journal: Nanomaterials
• Electronic ISSN: 2079-4991
• Publisher: MDPI
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 6
• Issue: 12
• Article Number: 232
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/nano6120232
• Keywords: super-hydrophobic; icephobic; silica nanoparticles; fluorosilane; self-assembled monolayers; durability
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/836713
• Publisher URL: http://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/6/12/232