An ultra-durable icephobic coating by a molecular pulley

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Surface Engineering

Background:

• Developing durable anti-icing and deicing surfaces is crucial for various applications, including transportation and renewable energy.
• Traditional covalent crosslinking in polymers can limit network mobility, affecting material properties and performance.
• Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is known for its hydrophobicity, but enhancing its anti-icing capabilities requires innovative network design.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and prepare novel slide-ring crosslinked polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) for enhanced anti-icing and deicing performance.
• To investigate the relationship between slidable crosslinks, polymer network mobility, and material properties.
• To evaluate the ice adhesion strength and mechanical durability of the developed PDMS coatings.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of slide-ring crosslinked PDMS using a novel design strategy.
• Characterization of polymer network properties, including elastic modulus and mobility.
• Measurement of ice adhesion strength through standardized icing/deicing cycles.
• Assessment of mechanical durability via abrasion testing.

Main Results:

• Slide-ring crosslinks significantly enhanced polymer network mobility and reduced elastic modulus compared to covalent crosslinks.
• The PDMS coatings exhibited ultra-low ice adhesion strength of 13.0 ± 1.3 kPa.
• The coatings demonstrated excellent mechanical durability, maintaining low ice adhesion after 20 icing/deicing cycles and 800 abrasion cycles.

Conclusions:

• The novel slide-ring crosslinking strategy effectively improves the anti-icing and deicing properties of PDMS.
• The enhanced polymer network mobility and hydrophobicity synergistically contribute to low ice adhesion and high durability.
• This approach offers a promising one-step solution for developing advanced anti-icing/deicing materials.