Superior droplet bouncing, anti-icing/anti-frosting and self-cleaning performance of an outstanding superhydrophobic PTFE coating

The prevention of ice/frosting formation is crucial in cold region for various applications. Superhydrophobic coatings are known for their excellent anti-icing/anti-frosting properties. In this study, a durable superhydrophobic PTFE coating on a stainless steel surface was fabricated with a high water contact angle of 171.4° and a low rolling angle of 1.1°. The freezing of water droplets on the coating exhibits a significantly prolonged duration of 809 s at −10 °C, representing a 25-fold increase compared to the uncoated stainless steel surface. The ice adhesion strength is reduced by 83.7%, making ice easier to remove. Anti-frosting tests show that a thinner and lower-density layer of frost formed on the PTFE coating due to its micro-nano hierarchical structure. Furthermore, the superhydrophobic PTFE coating demonstrates excellent mechanical stability, droplet bouncing dynamics and self-cleaning properties. It is anticipated that this durable superhydrophobic PTFE coating will be a candidate for anti-icing/anti-frosting and self-cleaning applications