Nanoparticle-Free 3D-Printed Hydrophobic Surfaces for Ice Mitigation Applications
Ice accumulation on exposed surfaces presents substantial economic and safety challenges across various industries. To overcome limitations associated with traditional anti-icing methods, such as the use of nanoparticles, this study introduces a novel and facile approach for fabricating superhydroph...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Molecules |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/15/3185 |
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| author | Ranim Zgaren Maryam Hosseini Reza Jafari Gelareh Momen |
| author_facet | Ranim Zgaren Maryam Hosseini Reza Jafari Gelareh Momen |
| author_sort | Ranim Zgaren |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Ice accumulation on exposed surfaces presents substantial economic and safety challenges across various industries. To overcome limitations associated with traditional anti-icing methods, such as the use of nanoparticles, this study introduces a novel and facile approach for fabricating superhydrophobic and anti-icing microstructures using cost-effective LCD 3D printing technology. The influence of diverse pillar geometries, including square, cylindrical, hexagonal, and truncated conical forms, was analyzed to assess their effects on the hydrophobic and anti-icing/icephobic performance in terms of wettability, ice adhesion strength, and icing delay time. The role of microstructure topography was further investigated through cylindrical patterns with varying geometric parameters to identify optimal designs for enhancing hydrophobic and icephobic characteristics. Furthermore, the effectiveness of surface functionalization using a low surface energy material was evaluated. Our findings demonstrate that the synergistic combination of tailored microscale geometries and surface functionalization significantly enhances anti-icing performance with reliable repeatability, achieving ice adhesion of 13.9 and 17.9 kPa for square and cylindrical pillars, respectively. Critically, this nanoparticle-free 3D printing and low surface energy treatment method offers a scalable and efficient route for producing high-performance hydrophobic/icephobic surfaces, opening promising avenues for applications in sectors where robust anti-icing capabilities are crucial, such as renewable energy and transportation. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-0eefe37b11144f1a9b1b5a485a2d75fc |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1420-3049 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Molecules |
| spelling | doaj-art-0eefe37b11144f1a9b1b5a485a2d75fc2025-08-20T03:36:41ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492025-07-013015318510.3390/molecules30153185Nanoparticle-Free 3D-Printed Hydrophobic Surfaces for Ice Mitigation ApplicationsRanim Zgaren0Maryam Hosseini1Reza Jafari2Gelareh Momen3Department of Applied Sciences, University of Québec in Chicoutimi (UQAC), 555, Boul. de l’Université, Chicoutimi, QC G7H 2B1, CanadaDepartment of Applied Sciences, University of Québec in Chicoutimi (UQAC), 555, Boul. de l’Université, Chicoutimi, QC G7H 2B1, CanadaDepartment of Applied Sciences, University of Québec in Chicoutimi (UQAC), 555, Boul. de l’Université, Chicoutimi, QC G7H 2B1, CanadaDepartment of Applied Sciences, University of Québec in Chicoutimi (UQAC), 555, Boul. de l’Université, Chicoutimi, QC G7H 2B1, CanadaIce accumulation on exposed surfaces presents substantial economic and safety challenges across various industries. To overcome limitations associated with traditional anti-icing methods, such as the use of nanoparticles, this study introduces a novel and facile approach for fabricating superhydrophobic and anti-icing microstructures using cost-effective LCD 3D printing technology. The influence of diverse pillar geometries, including square, cylindrical, hexagonal, and truncated conical forms, was analyzed to assess their effects on the hydrophobic and anti-icing/icephobic performance in terms of wettability, ice adhesion strength, and icing delay time. The role of microstructure topography was further investigated through cylindrical patterns with varying geometric parameters to identify optimal designs for enhancing hydrophobic and icephobic characteristics. Furthermore, the effectiveness of surface functionalization using a low surface energy material was evaluated. Our findings demonstrate that the synergistic combination of tailored microscale geometries and surface functionalization significantly enhances anti-icing performance with reliable repeatability, achieving ice adhesion of 13.9 and 17.9 kPa for square and cylindrical pillars, respectively. Critically, this nanoparticle-free 3D printing and low surface energy treatment method offers a scalable and efficient route for producing high-performance hydrophobic/icephobic surfaces, opening promising avenues for applications in sectors where robust anti-icing capabilities are crucial, such as renewable energy and transportation.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/15/3185anti-icing surfacesmicrostructurenanoparticle freehydrophobicityLCD 3D printing |
| spellingShingle | Ranim Zgaren Maryam Hosseini Reza Jafari Gelareh Momen Nanoparticle-Free 3D-Printed Hydrophobic Surfaces for Ice Mitigation Applications Molecules anti-icing surfaces microstructure nanoparticle free hydrophobicity LCD 3D printing |
| title | Nanoparticle-Free 3D-Printed Hydrophobic Surfaces for Ice Mitigation Applications |
| title_full | Nanoparticle-Free 3D-Printed Hydrophobic Surfaces for Ice Mitigation Applications |
| title_fullStr | Nanoparticle-Free 3D-Printed Hydrophobic Surfaces for Ice Mitigation Applications |
| title_full_unstemmed | Nanoparticle-Free 3D-Printed Hydrophobic Surfaces for Ice Mitigation Applications |
| title_short | Nanoparticle-Free 3D-Printed Hydrophobic Surfaces for Ice Mitigation Applications |
| title_sort | nanoparticle free 3d printed hydrophobic surfaces for ice mitigation applications |
| topic | anti-icing surfaces microstructure nanoparticle free hydrophobicity LCD 3D printing |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/15/3185 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ranimzgaren nanoparticlefree3dprintedhydrophobicsurfacesforicemitigationapplications AT maryamhosseini nanoparticlefree3dprintedhydrophobicsurfacesforicemitigationapplications AT rezajafari nanoparticlefree3dprintedhydrophobicsurfacesforicemitigationapplications AT gelarehmomen nanoparticlefree3dprintedhydrophobicsurfacesforicemitigationapplications |