Anti-icing Properties on Surfaces through a FunctionalComposite: Effect of Ionic Salts

摘要

This study reports the potential of a unique functional composite for anti-icing applications. To date, various ionic salt formulations have been applied to prevent ice accumulation on surfaces. However, salt can be removed by external factors and large amounts must be used to attain anti-icing properties. Incorporating hydrophilic salts into hydrophobic mediums and controlled release of specific agents can provide effective solution to reduce ice accumulation on surfaces. Here, we developed functional polymer composites with salt pockets of altered ionic salts consisting of potassium formate (KCOOH), sodium chloride (NaCl), or magnesium chloride (MgCl2). We dissolved ionic salts in hydrophilic gel domains and dispersed in a hydrophobic styrene–butadiene–styrene polymer matrix. Na⁺ and Cl^– ions delayed ice formation by 42.6 min at −2 °C compared to that for unmodified surfaces. Functional composites prepared with the NaCl ionic salt exhibited better anti-icing behavior at −2 °C because of their high concentration compared to that of the composites prepared with KCOOH and MgCl2 ionic salts. We also characterized the release of ionic saltsfrom composite-modified hydrophobic medium separately up to 118 days.Furthermore, we monitored freezing of water on composite-incorporatedor composite-coated hydrophobic surfaces in a camera-integrated coldchamber with a uniform temperature (−2 °C). The resultsdemonstrated significant increases in the delay of freezing on composite-incorporatedor composite-coated surfaces compared to that on controls. We observedaltered effects of each ionic salt on the mechanical, morphological,and functional properties of the composite-incorporated or composite-coatedhydrophobic surfaces. Our results suggested that the efficiency ofa polymer composite to promote anti-icing behavior on a surface isdirectly related to the type and concentration of the particular ionicsalt incorporation into the composite. This approach is promisingand demonstrates significant potential of the ionic salt embeddedwithin polymer composite-modified hydrophobic surfaces to attain delayedicing function.