Study on the influences of temperature and impact speed on the bounce behaviors of superhydrophobic surfaces

Abstract

The freezing of water droplets greatly harms overhead conductors and other outdoor infrastructures. Superhydrophobic (SHP) surfaces are an effective and practical method of preventing ice. The SHP surfaces rapidly repel the impact water droplets before freezing. Herein, SHP surfaces with a high aspect ratio and narrow gap nanostructures were prepared on aluminum plates by anodic oxidation, and the influences of temperature and impact speed on the bounce behaviors of SHP surfaces were systematically studied. The drop in temperature delays the escape of the liquid drop on the surface and reduces the bouncing height. Notably, the SHP surface still maintains good bounce behavior at -10 °C. The prepared SHP surface can resist droplet impalement with impact velocities below 2.42 mm/s at -5 °C. This study reveals the bounce behavior of droplets on supercooled SHP surfaces, and this provides experimental guidance for the exploration of SHP in ice prevention.