A facile and cost-effective fabrication of robust carbon black-based superhydrophobic coatings on aluminum alloy

Frozen contamination, including ice and frost, on the key surface of systems or facilities, can lead to serious problems and substantial financial losses. Superhydrophobic materials with high water contact angle (CA) and low sliding angle (SA) are potentially effective as anti-icing and self-cleaning materials. Herein, we present an inexpensive and durable superhydrophobic material prepared by combining carbon black (CB) and epoxy resin (EP) with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) via facile spraying. The as-prepared superhydrophobic material named PDMS@CB has excellent water repellence, and its water CA and SA can reach 171.5 degrees and 4.6 degrees, respectively. PDMS@CB characteristics are systematically investigated via field-emission scanning electron microscopy, laser scanning confocal microscopy, atomic force microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. PDMS@CB exhibits satisfactory chemical and thermal stability. After being dragged for a length of 800 cm, the CAs remain above 150 degrees and the SAs remain below 10 degrees for PDMS@CB, indicating the excellent durability of the material. Furthermore, the superhydrophobicity of PDMS@CB renders the material outstanding anti-icing and photothermal de-icing characteristics. PDMS@CB also exhibits excellent self-cleaning performance under the pollution caused by the daily liquid contaminants.

Automated summary

The study presents the development of an inexpensive and durable superhydrophobic material, PDMS@CB, which not only has high water contact angle and low sliding angle, but also exhibits excellent chemical and thermal stability, as well as anti-icing and self-cleaning properties.