Frost formation and anti-icing performance of a hydrophobic coating on aluminum

A hydrophobic coating with a static contact angle of 147° was obtained using an aluminate coupling agent on an aluminum (Al) surface, and aluminate coupling agent was first used to create hydrophobic surface. The surface energies of both neat Al and of hydrophobic coating surfaces were determined by both static and dynamic contact angle measurements. Frost formation and deposition on neat Al and hydrophobic coating surfaces were observed using an optical microscope and camera. The experimental results showed that the hydrophobic coating surface obviously restrained frost growth. The variation in frost thickness with time on the surfaces of both neat Al and hydrophobic coating surfaces was measured, and it was found that the frost deposition on hydrophobic coating surface was delayed for 60 min, when compared to a neat Al surface. Fatigue testing was also used to investigate the interfacial durability of the hydrophobic coating on an Al surface. Static contact angle studies in conjunction with fatigue testing revealed that aluminate coupling agent coatings on an Al surface exhibited strong and stable interfacial adhesion.