Investigating Heat-Tolerant Microstructure Characteristics for Superior Icephobicity

This investigation quantifies the influence of surface topography on icephobic characteristics, specifically analyzing the reduction of ice-substrate adhesion strength and the retardation of the liquid-solid phase transition on microstructured surfaces through a thermal resistance analysis. Well-defined microstructures with systematically varied morphologies were fabricated on silicon substrates utilizing lithographic techniques and custom-designed masks. The concept of area fraction has been introduced to assess the influence of uniform textures on bond strength and thermal resistance. Results demonstrate a strong dependency of adhesion strength on the areal fraction, independent of microtexture dimensions, thereby emphasizing its critical role in the design of surfaces with minimized ice adhesion. However, the areal fraction alone does not fully elucidate the phase transition kinetics of individual water droplets, as significant variations in freezing time were observed despite equivalent areal fractions and contact angles. Consequently, a detailed thermal resistance model was developed, revealing the substantial impact of surface topography on the phase transition process. This study provides valuable quantitative insights for the rational design of surfaces with enhanced icephobic performance.