Lubricant-Infused Microtextured Polyethylene Films: From Interfacial Compatibility to Lubricant Depletion and Ice Adhesion

Liquid-infused surfaces can promote droplet mobility and reduce ice adhesion, but their durability depends on texture geometry, lubricant retention, and lubricant viscosity. This study evaluated microtextured low-density polyethylene (LDPE) films as silicone-oil-infused anti-icing surfaces. The LDPE films featured a replicated microtexture with a pitch of 57 ± 3 μm. Surface-tension measurements and spreading-coefficient calculations assessed thermodynamic compatibility, whereas sliding-angle, droplet-driven lubricant-depletion, and horizontal shear ice-adhesion tests quantified performance. Silicone oils preferentially wet LDPE in air and beneath water. The sliding angles of water droplets decreased with increasing droplet mass, reaching 3–6° for droplets heavier than 20 mg. Lubricant depletion occurs in two stages. Increasing the water flow rate from 0.24 to 0.94 mL/min increases lubricant loss by up to 48%. Higher-viscosity oils resisted depletion more effectively but produced greater ice adhesion. Infusion of the microtexture reduced shear ice adhesion from approximately 120 kPa for flat LDPE to 5–19 kPa. These results reveal a viscosity-dependent trade-off between initial droplet mobility and low ice adhesion versus lubricant retention and functional durability.