In-situ icing and water condensation study on Ni scaffold promoted liquid-infused surfaces

Ice protection related applications have raised notable academic and industrial attention in recent years. The induction of icephobicity primarily involves the modification of surface characteristics and inherent material properties. One of the significant factors influencing the icephobicity is the surface roughness, as the presence of surface rough asperities may serve as the potential ice anchoring points, especially under high humidity conditions. In this work, the Observation of in-situ water condensation and icing was undertaken on Ni/PDMS icephobic surfaces with varying surface topographies to enhance comprehension of water condensation and ice formation patterns under controlled humidity, pressure, and temperature conditions. It was noted that the surface topography exerts a substantial influence on the water micro-condensation, ice formation and retraction processes. The water micro-condensation normally occurs along the rougher asperities of the sample surfaces. The subsequent analysis indicated a more severe and intensified ice interlock on rougher surfaces. While on smoother surfaces, the lack of capacity to induce anchoring resulted in the reduced observed ice, facilitating a more straightforward ice retraction process. The findings indicated a noteworthy correlation between the dislodgment of ice and interlocking mechanism stemming from the surface rough voids, emphasizing the significance of taking these factors into account in the design and fabrication of ice-repellent surfaces.