Durable superhydrophobic coating with energy-saving drag reduction and anti-icing properties

With the growing demand for energy and the development of pipeline transport, it is crucial to reduce drag in transport to improve transport efficiency and reduce energy consumption. In this study, a superhydrophobic coating based on stainless steel mesh (SSM) was prepared by using a simple spraying method. The surface morphology of the samples was characterized by Field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM), and the samples were chemically analyzed by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD). Epoxy resin was introduced as a binder to strengthen the bond between the coating and the substrate. This coating provided a combination of drag reduction and anti-icing, achieving an impressive drag reduction rate of up to 94%. At the same time, due to its excellent superhydrophobicity, the coating slowed down the formation and growth of ice crystals, and the freezing time was about 12 times longer than that of the original SSM. What’s more, the coating also exhibited excellent mechanical and chemical stability, making it promising for practical drag reduction and anti-icing applications. We hope to provide some ideas for the field of fluid transport.