Liquid-Impregnated Surfaces, Methods of Making, and Devices Incorporating the Same

Abstract

The invention is directed to an article with a liquid-impregnated surface, the surface having a matrix of features thereupon, spaced sufficiently close to stably contain a liquid therebetween or therewithin, and preferable also a thin film thereupon. The surface provides the article with advantageous non-wetting properties. Compared to previous non-wetting surfaces, which include a gas (e.g., air) entrained within surface textures, these liquid-impregnated surfaces are resistant to impalement and frost formation, and are therefore more robust.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application claims priority to and the benefit of, and incorporates herein by reference in its entirety, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 515,395, which was filed on Aug. 5, 2011.TECHNICAL FIELD [0002]This invention relates generally to non-wetting and low adhesion surfaces. More particularly, in certain embodiments, the invention relates to non-wetting surfaces that resist liquid impalement, ice formation, scale formation, hydrate formation, and / or have antifouling properties.BACKGROUND [0003]The advent of micro / nano-engineered surfaces in the last decade has opened up new techniques for enhancing a wide variety of physical phenomena in thermofluids sciences. For example, the use of micro / nano surface textures has provided nonwetting surfaces capable of achieving less viscous drag, reduced adhesion to ice and other materials, self-cleaning, and water repellency. These improvements result generally from diminished contact (i...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0017]In certain embodiments, the article is a steam turbine part, a gas turbine part, an aircraft part, or a wind turbine part, and the liquid-impregnated surface is configured to repel impinging liquid. In certain embodiments, the article is eyeglasses, goggles, a ski mask, a helmet, a helmet face shield, or a mirror, and the liquid-impregnated surface is configured to inhibit fogging thereupon. In certain embodiments, the article is an aircraft part, a wind turbine part, a power transmission line, or a windshield, and the liquid-impregnated surface is configured to inhibit formation of ice thereupon. In certain embodiments, the article is a pipeline (or a part or coating thereof), and the liquid-impregnated surface is configured to inhibit the formation of hydrate thereupon and/or enhance the slippage (reduce drag) of fluid flowing thereupon (or therethrough). In certain embodiments, the article is a heat exchanger part or an oil or gas pipeline (or a part or coating thereof), and the liquid-impregnated surface is configure

Problems solved by technology

One of the drawbacks of existing non-wetting surfaces (e.g., superhydrophobic, superoleophobic, and supermetallophobic surfaces) is that they are susceptible to impalement, which destroys the non-wetting capabilities of the surface.

Another drawback with existing non-wetting surfaces is that they are susceptible to ice formation and adhesion.

Removal of the ice can be difficult because the ice may int

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