Fabrication of Ultralow Ice-Adhesion Slippery Liquid Infused Porous Surfaces on Aluminum Alloy (7075-T651)

Slippery liquid infused porous surfaces (SLIPS) have been considered to be potential and effective method for anti-icing. Much work needed to be done for the application in field. In this study, SLIPS were successfully fabricated on 7075-T651 aluminum alloy by anodizing in phosphoric acid solution with three different voltage parameters and coating lubricant. Then the most suitable anodization parameters of samples were selected through the anti-icing performance tests. The best as-prepared surface exhibited ultralow ice-adhesion strength, which reduced from 261 to 6 kPa. Meanwhile, the freezing time of water-drop on aluminum alloy surfaces have been dramatically delayed at -5 and -10 degrees C (humidity of 75% +/- 5%), respectively. Moreover, the durability of the SLIPS have also been investigated. Cycles of icing/deicing, mechanical damage, thermal and UV exposure were used to investigate the durability of SLIPS, and SLIPS could still show low ice-adhesion strength.