The ice repellency of plasma polymerized hexamethyldisiloxane coating

A superhydrophobic thin film was deposited on an aluminium oxide substrate by low pressure plasma polymerization of hexamethyldisiloxane (HMDSO). The coating was determined to be superhydrophobic due to its high water contact angle (∼158°) and low contact angle hysteresis. The aim of this work is to verify the icephobic properties of the HMDSO thin films obtained under simulated atmospheric conditions in a wind tunnel at sub-zero temperature and subsequent centrifugal adhesion test. The results obtained showed that the ice adhesion strength of the superhydrophobic HMDSO coating was 3.5 times lower than that on an aluminium substrate as reference tests. Although ice adhesion strength of the surface increased after 15 times icing/de-icing cycles, the surface kept its icephobic properties (ice adhesion strength 1.4 times lower than untreated aluminium).