An experimental study on the influence of humidity on ice adhesion strength on superhydrophobic surfaces with microstructures

Dongyu Fu, Haikun Zheng*, Wei Sheng, Xiaoru Hao, Xinmin Zhang, Shinan Chang, Mengjie Song

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Superhydrophobic surfaces with specific microstructures are widely utilized in various industries, such as wind power and aerospace, to weaken the ice adhesion and reduce the ice accumulation. While previous studies have explored the ice adhesion strength on surfaces with diverse characteristics and different materials, limited research has been conducted on the adhesion strength of ice under different ambient humidities. To address this knowledge gap, a variety of microstructures were fabricated on aluminum surfaces using femtosecond laser etching in this study. Subsequently, a silicon dioxide coating was applied to the surfaces. These surfaces were then subjected to ice adhesion tests at varying humidity levels, allowing us to evaluate the effects of humidity on ice adhesion strength. It was observed that the adhesion strength of ice increased significantly with rising humidity levels. Additionally, the condensation of humid air within the microstructures played a significant role in enhancing ice adhesion. These findings underscore the importance of incorporating humidity considerations in the design of ice-phobic metal substrates, and are expected to facilitate the overall comprehension of ice adhesion and provide invaluable insights for the development of hydrophobic surface treatments.

Original languageEnglish
Article number122732
JournalApplied Thermal Engineering
Volume244
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 May 2024

Keywords

  • Droplet dynamics
  • Ice adhesion
  • Ice anchoring
  • Liquid bridge
  • Relative humidity
  • Superhydrophobic surface

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Fu, D., Zheng, H., Sheng, W., Hao, X., Zhang, X., Chang, S., & Song, M. (2024). An experimental study on the influence of humidity on ice adhesion strength on superhydrophobic surfaces with microstructures. Applied Thermal Engineering, 244, Article 122732. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2024.122732