Hydrophobic Anti-Ice Coatings to Prevent Frost Spreading

摘要

Heat exchangers for refrigeration, heat pumps and heat recovery ventilation (HRV) require periodic defrosting which consumes energy. Application of a smooth, hydrophobic, organic-inorganic hybrid coating as wet paint, which cured provides low contact angle hysteresis (advancing/receding water contact angles 104°/95°), extended the time interval betweendefrosting cycles in a HRV experiment by a factor of 2.3. Freezing (ice nucleation) is not inhibited, but the spreading of frost, which originates from ice-nucleation sites, was inhibited. Herein we discuss suitable analytics, applied coating systems and challenges for further improvement by structured, superhydrophobic surfaces.