碳纳米管改性颗粒光热防冰涂层的制备与性能表征

The work aims to develop a high-performance photothermal superhydrophobic anti-icing coating featuring a composite microstructure of silicon carbide particles (SiC_p) and clusterized microparticles (CMPs) made from multi-walled carbon nanotubes. The primary innovation is the dual-mode anti-icing strategy that effectively combines passive prevention with active removal, achieved via a simple and scalable one-step spray coating method. The fabrication process began with the hydrophobic modification of carboxylated MWCNTs with 1H,1H,2H,2H-Perfluorodecyltrimethoxysilane (FDTS). This critical step, confirmed by FTIR with the appearance of characteristic ester (C==O) and C-F peaks, induced the self-assembly of individual nanotubes into micro-sized CMPs. The coating suspension was prepared by dispersing specific mass ratios of SiCp to CMPs (3: 1, 2: 1, 1: 1, 1: 2, 1: 3) in ethyl acetate, followed by incorporating polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and epoxy resin (EP) as dual binders before spraying onto aluminum substrates. Extensive characterization revealed that the SiCp/CMPs mass ratio of 1: 2 yielded optimal performance. SEM showed that this specific formulation created an ideal micro-nano hierarchical structure where CMPs formed interconnected, mountain-like assemblies with numerous micropores, while SiC_p contributed to the overall roughness. This unique architecture enabled superior superhydrophobicity, achieving a water contact angle of 158° and an extremely low rolling angle of 4.1°, facilitated by a stable Cassie-Baxter state with substantial air entrapment. The passive anti-icing performance was remarkably enhanced. The optimal coating delayed ice formation for 634 seconds at −15 ℃, representing a 5.6-fold improvement over untreated aluminum (96 s). This significant delay was attributed to the excellent thermal insulation provided by the trapped air within the microstructures. Furthermore, the coating demonstrated ultra-low ice adhesion strength of merely 38.3 kPa, compared to 196.5 kPa for bare aluminum. The reduction mechanism involved both the minimized solid-liquid contact area preventing mechanical interlocking and the mountain-like structures promoting stress concentration and micro-crack propagation at the ice-coating interface during detachment. For active de-icing, the coating exhibited outstanding photothermal performance under 1 sun illumination (1 kW/m²). The surface temperature of the SiC_p/CMPs 1: 2 coating rapidly increased from 25 ℃ to 75 ℃ within 240 seconds, capable of melting an ice layer in approximately 23 seconds. This efficient photothermal conversion stemmed from the intrinsic broad-spectrum absorption of CMPs combined with enhanced light scattering and trapping within the rough surface topography. The study successfully balanced both anti-icing mechanisms, as the optimal formulation provided substantial photothermal response while maintaining the crucial microstructural features necessary for exceptional passive performance. This work demonstrates a practical and efficient solution for ice protection that integrates passive anti-icing through carefully engineered surface topography with active photothermal de-icing functionality. The facile fabrication process, combined with the use of cost-effective materials and the demonstrated dual-mode protective capability, makes this coating highly promising for practical applications in preventing ice accretion on critical infrastructure such as power transmission lines, wind turbines, and aircraft surfaces.