Icing behavior of water droplets impinging on cold superhydrophobic surface

Abstract

Ice and contaminants accumulate on the surface of insulators, causing severe damage to the power system. To reduce the accumulation of ice and contaminants, a superhydrophobic coating based on silica nanoparticles and room-temperature vulcanized silicone rubber was prepared via the simple spray coating method. The icing processes of the hydrophilic, hydrophobic and superhydrophobic surfaces from −4 to −16 °C were detailedly recorded. At −8 °C and −4 °C, the water droplets rapidly rolled away from the cold superhydrophobic surface. At −12 °C, a delay in the ice accretion and a decrease in the ice volume on the superhydrophobic surface were achieved. At −16 °C, the anti-icing effect was not observed. The experimental results also showed that the superhydrophobic coating has a strong ability to restrain frost growth. Hence, the superhydrophobic coating can be applied on insulators to prevent icing flashover.