Materials could delay frost up to 300 times longer than existing anti-icing coatings

Nanowerk  March 21, 2019
An international team of researchers (USA – University of Illinois, France) has demonstrated that the use of certain phase‐change materials, called phase‐switching liquids (PSLs), which are in liquid state under ambient conditions and have melting point higher than the freezing point of water can impede condensation–frosting lasting up to 300 and 15 times longer in bulk and surface infused state, respectively. The freezing delay is primarily a consequence of the release of trapped latent heat due to condensation, solidified PSL surface morphology and its miscibility in water. Regardless of surface chemistry, PSL‐infused textured surfaces exhibit low droplet adhesion when operated below the corresponding melting point of the solidified PSLs, and they display varying degrees of optical transparency, can repel a variety of liquids, and self‐heal upon physical damage.  Video … read more.  TECHNICAL ARTICLE