Effect of copper surface modification applied by combined modification of metal vapor vacuum arc ion implantation and laser texturing on anti-frosting property

Abstract

Heat transfer deterioration due to frost accumulation on metallic surfaces provided motivation for development of protective barriers that could effectively repel water in many forms. Currently, extensive attention has focused on superhydrophobic surfaces which have been found to be effective in reducing droplets condensation and frost accumulation. The combined modification using nanosecond laser and metal vapor vacuum arc (MEVVA) ion implantation of carbon is applied to the copper surface. The results revealed that the increased proportion of carbon content contribute to the increase of surface hydrophobicity, the contact angle of the combined surface was 152.1° ± 1° and the rolling angle was 6.7° ± 1°, which exhibited a superhydrophobic character, without thermal conductivity deterioration. The processes of droplet condensation, freezing and the frosting of three kinds of surfaces (rough #1, combined surface modification #2, silanization coating #3) have been examined. The combined surface can delay the freezing process to some extent. Compared with rough copper surface, combined surface had sparse frost structure and the growth of frost could be delayed by 43% when the frost thickness was 1.5 mm. Thus, the method of combined surface shows a great advantage of frost inhibition applicability.